EVMs In Indian Elections : A Neutral View

 

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Indian Elections: History, Introduction, Current Status, and Controversies.

The EVMs were initially introduced to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the voting process and eliminate the problems associated with manual counting such as errors, malpractices, and delays. EVMs were seen as a technological upgrade that could help prevent electoral fraud, booth capturing, and bogus voting.

Since then, EVMs have been used in almost all Indian elections, including the general elections and state assembly elections. The use of EVMs has increased the speed of vote counting and has reduced the time required for the declaration of results. Additionally, EVMs have also reduced the cost of conducting elections as they require less manpower for counting and transportation.

However, the use of EVMs in Indian elections has also been surrounded by controversy. There have been allegations of EVM tampering, hacking, and malfunctioning. Some political parties and activists have raised concerns about the vulnerability of the EVMs to hacking and the lack of transparency in the voting process.

The ECI has dismissed these allegations and has stated that the EVMs are tamper-proof and have several security features that prevent any unauthorized access or tampering. The ECI has also conducted several rounds of testing and certification of EVMs to ensure their accuracy and reliability.

In recent years, the controversy surrounding EVMs has intensified, with several political parties demanding a return to paper ballots. However, the ECI has reiterated its confidence in the EVMs and has continued to use them in Indian elections.

- TD² #1