The Haryana State Election Commission (SEC) has announced it will not conduct the upcoming urban local body elections using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), as mandated by the Supreme Court since 2013. These elections, set for March 2 and March 9, 2025, will cover 33 urban local bodies, including eight municipal corporations and four municipal councils.
Political figures and the public have expressed considerable concern over this decision, particularly since VVPATs allow voters to verify their selections. "The elections need to be conducted with VVPATs for transparency," said advocate Hemant Kumar from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who has actively urged the SEC to comply with the 2013 Supreme Court judgment. This judgment was instated following multiple allegations from political parties who feared the potential for manipulation and irregularities with the results of the EVMs.
While the SEC assured voters of the security and reliability of EVMs, stating, "EVMs are completely secure and cannot be hacked under any circumstances," the insistence on using older M2-type EVMs over modern M3 versions raised eyebrows. The SEC argued these older machines are resistant to hacking through various means—including remote devices, hardware ports, wireless connections, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth devices. Despite these reassurances, the SEC recognized their limitations, noting the unavailability of VVPAT-compatible EVMs.
The commission's two-page written reply to Kumar articulated their position, stating their commitment to conducting fair elections, even if it means using older technology. They maintained, "We assure about the integrity, fairness, and transparency of elections" but faced pushback from several parties demanding the adoption of ballot papers instead.
Notably, during the inspection of EVM warehouses, conducted by District Magistrate Ajay Dwivedi, arrangements for ballot units, control units, and VVPAT security were thoroughly assessed. The district magistrate instructed for continuous monitoring and CCTV recordings to maintain strict security protocols. Presence of political representatives from various parties during these inspections highlighted the broader concerns surrounding election integrity.
Upcoming elections will also have by-elections for mayoral positions across two municipalities and various committee presidential elections, increasing the stakes and public interest around the electoral process. Political consensus remains elusive, and election-related tension is palpable, evidenced by the vocal dissent from the Haryana Congress party.
With the elections drawing near, the State Election Commission is under scrutiny as they prepare to execute their plans without VVPATs, raising pressing questions about election integrity, public trust, and whether shaping the electoral future of Haryana will happen beneath the shadow of transparency concerns.