SECURING THE POLLS

THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘The vote is safe’ (IE, April 27). The Supreme Court’s verdict dismissing petitions calling for 100 per cent verification of EVM votes with VVPAT slips appears to be a well-balanced, timely decision. However, the Court’s suggestion for the ECI to explore the feasibility of electronic machines for counting VVPAT paper slips, coupled with the inclusion of barcodes for party identification, is yet another pragmatic approach to streamline the verification process. Such technological innovations, if implemented judiciously, could prove to be gamechangers in ensuring the reliability of the electoral machinery, without causing considerable disruptions. While demands for heightened scrutiny merit consideration, it is essential to weigh them against practical constraints, including logistical challenges and potential delays in result declaration. There is a need for pragmatic solutions that reconcile competing interests while upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

Khokan Das, Kolkata

THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘The vote is safe’ (IE, April 27). Justice Dipankar Datta has prudently judged that the question of returning to ballot papers “does not and cannot arise”. The world has moved to paperless systems for the environment. Change, modernise and advance to make life more efficient has been the world order. The directions of the Supreme Court to keep safe all the EVMS and connected apparatus for 45 days should ward off all objections. Those propagating the adoption of paper ballots should understand that from super-computers we cannot go back to abacus or counting on fingers. However, efforts to make gadgets more efficient and perfect should continue.

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi