16 opposition parties ask EC to revert to ballot papers

April 11, 2017 08:24

Sixteen opposition parties have urged the Election Commission to revert to the paper ballot system in future elections saying tampering allegations have created "trust deficit" on the reliability of the voting machines.

The parties also slammed the Centre for failing to provide funds to the Commission to put in place sufficient number of voter verified paper audit trail machines for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The VVPAT dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party the elector has voted for using EVM. This proves that the EVM has faithfully recorded the vote.

"We are not blaming the EC. EC feels EVMs are tamper-proof. Even Pentagon is not fool-proof. We have urged the Commission to revert to paper ballot system till the reliability of EVMs is proven beyond doubt by all

stakeholders," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal told reporters.

He said the commission would soon convene an all-party meet to further discuss the issue.

"The trust deficit amongst political parties in the electronic devices is too deep seated and pervasive. It has shattered the faith of the people in the fairness of the electoral process...the trust factor is getting eroded and it

is incumbent upon the Election Commission to allay those fears and apprehensions," the memorandum submitted to the poll panel read.

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