AMN
The Election Commission has convened an all-party meeting in New Delhi on Friday over the issue of Electronic Voting Machine and other electoral reforms.
Leaders of all National and State recognized Political Parties will participate and discuss the issues in the meeting.
In its communication sent to the Presidents of all seven national and 48 state political parties, the Commission had also sent status paper on EVM and VVPAT.
The poll panel will try to assure parties that the EVMs cannot be hacked in any manner. Last month, sixteen opposition parties had urged the Election Commission to revert to the paper ballot system saying that the alleged tampering has created trust deficit in the credibility of the EVMs.
However, the poll body has been maintaining that EVMs are tamper proof and cannot be manipulated.
The poll panel intends to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units attached with EVMs in the coming elections for greater transparency and to keep voters’ confidence in the electoral process.
The Union Cabinet had given its nod to sanctioned funds of nearly 3200 crore rupees to procure more than 16 lakh VVPATs as sought by the EC. Besides EVMs, the meeting is expected to deliberate on making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount Rules.