December 2, 2024: The Supreme Court of India has raised significant concerns over the efficiency of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in polling stations with more than 1,500 registered voters. The issue arose during a hearing on Monday, where a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to clarify how EVMs, designed to accommodate up to 1,500 votes, could handle larger numbers of voters without causing delays or inconvenience.

The court's concerns stemmed from the potential for long wait times and disruptions, particularly in high-turnout areas. The bench noted that, with each EVM processing only about 45 votes per hour, stations with more than 1,500 voters could face serious logistical challenges during peak voting hours. “File a short affidavit explaining the position. We are concerned that no voter should face inconvenience,” Chief Justice Khanna emphasized during the hearing.

The petition was filed by Indu Prakash Singh, who is challenging the Election Commission's 2019 decision to increase the voter limit at each polling station from 1,200 to 1,500. Singh, in his petition, expressed concerns that this move would place excessive strain on the EVMs, potentially leading to overcrowded polling booths and longer wait times. He has urged the court to revert to the previous limit of 1,200 voters per station, a practice followed from 1957 until 2016.

Advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission, defended the current system, stating that the 1,500-voter cap had been in place since 2019 without any major complaints. He attributed occasional delays to congestion caused by late-arriving voters, pointing out that mornings are typically less crowded. "If everyone arrives late in the day, it creates congestion, but the morning hours are less crowded," Singh argued.

However, the court remains unconvinced, especially considering that voter turnout often peaks later in the day, potentially overwhelming the EVMs and creating delays in the voting process. The petitioner has also called for a broader reform, urging the court to direct the ECI to increase the number of polling stations in line with the requirements of Section 25 of the Representation of People Act, which mandates adequate arrangements for the smooth conduct of elections.

In response to the court’s concerns, the bench has directed the Election Commission to submit a detailed affidavit explaining its stance on the issue within the next three weeks. The matter is scheduled for further hearing in the week beginning January 27, 2025.