Lok Sabha Elections VVPAT Slips Elimination Fact Check: A video has been going viral on Fb for the previous few days, by which some persons are allegedly removing Voter Verified Paper Audit Path (VVPAT) slips from EVMs and preserving them in a black envelope. The consumer who shared this video claimed that the individual seen within the video is stealing slips from EVMs.

Seeing this video going viral quickly, PTI Fact Check staff began investigating it. Throughout investigation, the staff got here to know that this video is from 2022 and it’s being shared on social media with false claims by saying that it’s current. Earlier final 12 months, throughout the Karnataka elections additionally, the identical video was made viral as being from there.

'PTI Fact Check: Video of elimination of Vvpat Slips shared on social media with false declare 'This truth verify' Right here can learn.

What has been claimed?

An Instagram consumer has shared a video on 23 April 2024. On this, an individual is seen taking out Voter Verified Paper Audit Path (VVPAT) slips from the EVM and preserving them in a black envelope. The video was shared with the declare that the individual was stealing slips from EVMs.

The caption of the submit reads, “Theft of slips from EVM.. #viralvideos #reels #trending #instareels”

Right here Hyperlink And archive Right here's the hyperlink and a screenshot under:

What did the investigation reveal?

Beginning the investigation, the staff ran the viral video by way of InVid device search and located some keyframes. After operating a keyframe by way of Google Lens, we discovered a number of posts of the identical video with related claims.

two such posts Right here And Right here May be seen and their archived variations Right here And Right here May be seen:

Two such ex-posts could be seen right here.

Within the subsequent half of the very fact verify, the staff tried to grasp the method adopted at polling stations concerning EVM and VVPAT slips.

On doing a personalized key phrase search utilizing the key phrase “Conduct of Elections Guidelines, 1961” on Google, we discovered the official web site of the Chief Electoral Officer, Rajasthan. Right here we discovered a PDF file, which was downloaded by the staff.

file right here Hyperlink Is

The staff scrolled right down to Part 94 of the Election Guidelines concerning disposal of election papers in PDF paperwork. Part 94(B) of the Conduct of Elections Guidelines, 1961 states that the Election Fee or any competent courtroom or tribunal shall produce election associated papers comparable to used and unused poll papers, counterfoil of used poll paper. Marked copies of the voter checklist and the register of voters might be preserved for one 12 months. Nonetheless, this rule doesn’t explicitly point out VVPAT slips.

Beneath is its screenshot:

Nonetheless, the video of the viral submit doesn’t present destruction of VVPAT slips or some other election associated paperwork. As an alternative, it refers back to the elimination of VVPAT slips from the respective machines (which is a component of the method defined by the ECI, as defined within the article under).

The Workforce noticed that Part 94(C) of the Conduct of Elections Guidelines, 1961, referred to above, addresses all different election papers (together with VVPAT slips), stating that they’re to be processed as directed by the Election Fee. May be maintained for the interval until the election petition/courtroom case is pending.

Within the subsequent half of the investigation, the staff searched Google with the key phrases “elimination of VVPAT slips, ECI”. A web page opened in entrance of us on the official web site of the Election Fee of India. It contained details about the principles for issuing VVPAT slips after the counting of votes is full. The staff downloaded this web page.

web site right here Hyperlink Given under is a screenshot:

As per ECI guidelines, VVPAT paper slips might be taken out from the drop field of VVPAT and saved in a paper envelope made of thick black paper as per the polling station. Additionally, the VVPAT slips drawn from every machine ought to be saved in a separate envelope.

Beneath is a screenshot highlighting the ECI guidelines:

This was the identical course of that was being finished by the individual within the viral video. Wherein he took out the VVPAT slips from the machine, saved them protected in an envelope of thick black paper and later sealed them.

Upon additional investigation, the staff discovered one other Fb submit with the same video shared on December 12, 2022.

The caption of the submit reads, “See with your individual eyes how BJP contractors win, it is a video from Bhavnagar district.”

Right here Hyperlink And archive hyperlink And under is a screenshot of it

Although the staff couldn’t hint the supply of the viral video, the staff got here to the conclusion that this video exists from 2022.

The staff then concluded that an previous video associated to the method of extraction and preservation of VVPAT slips from EVMs has not too long ago been shared on social media with false claims.

What has been claimed?

Video of VVPAT slips being stolen from EVM.

What was the very fact?

That is an previous video which is from 2022, by which an individual is proven following the method of removing VVPAT slips from EVMs as per ECI pointers. The video is being wrongly linked to the continued Lok Sabha elections.

What was the conclusion?

Many social media customers shared a video by which some folks could be seen allegedly removing VVPAT slips from the EVM. Customers claimed that this individual is stealing VVPAT slips within the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Fact Check discovered that this was an previous video from 2022, by which the man was proven following the method of removing VVPAT slips from EVMs as per ECI pointers. However customers are making it viral on social media with false claims by saying that it’s current.

Disclaimer: This story was initially printed by PTI and republished by ABP Dwell Hindi as half of the Shakti Collective.