Fact Check: Viral video shows VVPAT paper slips being collected after counting, not EVM manipulation

Hyderabad: A video of people collecting slips from machines and sealing them in envelopes is circulating on social media. Those sharing the video claim it shows manipulation of EVMs after the first phase of voting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“BJP knows their defeat is 100% sure. Therefore, doing unethical, unconstitutional works to manipulate the EVMs. Supreme Court must direct ECI to look into matters immediately (sic),” wrote Congress leader Lhingkim H Shingnaisui from Manipur who shared the video. (Archive)

“What is going on here @ECISVEEP. Why are random boys opening machines and replacing rolls. Nothing looks right about this @rajivkumarec (sic),” wrote another X user who shared the video tagging the chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

The video shared by Congress leader Lhingkim has a second part allegedly showing booth capturing in Manipur by a militia group. For the purpose of the article, the focus will only be on the EVMs’ manipulation claim.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false as the video shows the sealing of VVPAT slips after the counting in 2022.

Upon a reverse image search of the video’s keyframe, we found that the video was in circulation in 2022. The official X handle (Archive) of Gujarat’s Bhavnagar District magistrate, replying to a user who shared the video, said that ‘as per ECI instructions, after the counting is done the verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips are sealed in a black envelope so that the VVPATs can be again used in further elections.’ The post also mentioned that the whole process of sealing VVPAT slips is videographed and a ‘copy is kept in the strongroom and one with the DEO concerned.’

With this lead, we ran a keyword search about sealing VVPAT slips and came across a PDF published on May 4, 2022, on the website of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

According to the ECI’s rules, the VVPAT paper slips shall be removed from the drop box of VVPAT and sealed in a thick black paper envelope polling station-wise. Also, the VVPAT slips taken out from each machine must be kept in a separate envelope.

ECI instructions followed in the video

Further, we watched the viral video and found the persons following the aforementioned ECI instructions: First, the slips are taken out from the VVPAT machine; second, the slips are kept in the black envelope; third, slips are taken out from each box is to be kept separately and finally, we found columns to fill the details on the envelope.

NewsMeter couldn’t independently verify the date and place of the video. However, we conclude that the video only shows the sealing of VVPAT paper slips and not the rigging of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after the first phase of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The claim is false.