The Election Commission of India (ECI) received on Thursday eleven applications to verify the memory of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units.

Eight applications contested the recent 2024 Lok Sabha elections. These include three applications from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), three applications from the Indian National Congress (INC) and two applications from the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). Additionally, the ECI received three verification applications from candidates in state Assembly elections. Two of such applications were made by a YSRCP candidate in Andhra Pradesh state and one application was made by Biju Janata Dal candidates in Odisha state.

This marks the first time applications have been made following the Supreme Court’s April 26 ruling in Association for Democratic Reforms v. Election Commission of India, which allows runners-up of elections to seek verification of burnt memories of EVM and VVPAT units.

According to the ECI’s standard operating procedure, the District Election Officer (DEO) is responsible for verification processes. Candidates must submit written requests to their respective DEOs and deposit Rs40,000 per EVM set. The expenses would be refunded to candidates if tampering were to be found. Election petitions can be filed until July 19. While verification will proceed regardless of whether petitions are filed, petitions can be filed until July 19. The ECI is set to release the finalized standard operating procedure by August.

Relatedly, on April 25, the ECI issued election code violation notices the BJP and INC. The notices were issued for violations of the Model Code of Conduct by the star campaigners of both parties, including the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, from the BJP and the senior leader of INC, Rahul Gandhi.