Just days after the Supreme Court reaffirmed confidence in the electoral system and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new protocol for handling and storing Symbol Loading Units (SLUs), distributing it to all Chief Electoral Officers across states and Union Territories. This protocol is a response to directives from the Supreme Court in its April 26, 204 judgment.
As outlined in a press release by the Election Commission of India, the new protocol for handling and storing SLUs has been implemented in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives. All Chief Electoral Officers have been instructed to establish the necessary infrastructure and procedures to enforce these new protocols. The revised guidelines, mandated by the Supreme Court, apply to all cases of symbol loading completed in the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) from May 1, 2024, onward.
Regarding the handling of Symbol Loading Units, the Supreme Court, while dismissing a recent petition advocating for 100% tallying of VVPAT slips with EVM votes, emphasized the importance of enhancing the integrity of the electoral process. The court directed that following the completion of symbol loading in VVPATs from May 1, 2024, onward, the Symbol Loading Units should be sealed and secured in containers. Candidates or their representatives must sign the seals, and these containers, housing the Symbol Loading Units, should be stored in the strong room alongside the EVMs for at least 45 days after results are declared.
Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) are crucial components used by the Election Commission of India approximately 10 to 15 days before polling day to load symbols onto VVPAT machines. These units load symbols onto the VVPATs’ flash memory in the form of bitmap files containing the symbol of the political party or candidate, along with their serial number and name.
During the symbol loading process, which involves a laptop with a symbol loading application, authorized engineers from manufacturers and the District Election Officer work alongside candidates or their representatives. A monitor or TV screen displays the process, during which each candidate is allocated a specific button or key on the ballot unit. Allocation is done alphabetically based on the candidate’s name, first for nationally and state recognized political parties, followed by other state registered parties, and finally for independent candidates.