By Inderjit Badhwar
The recent Maharashtra elections have raised concerns about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). With a significant mismatch between votes counted and votes polled, the electoral balance could have been compromised. In our cover story in this issue (December 9, 2024), Justice Kamaljit Singh Garewal highlights the importance of free and fair elections, a constitutional promise that remains unfulfilled.
EVMs have been used in Indian elections since the 1990s, with the introduction of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in 2013. Despite their widespread use, EVMs have faced criticism and allegations of tampering. The Supreme Court has dismissed petitions seeking a return to the paper ballot system, terming suspicions of EVM manipulation “unfounded”.
The use of EVMs was supposed to have eliminated booth capturing and bogus voting, but concerns about their reliability persist. The Election Commission of India has implemented various safeguards, including the use of VVPAT machines and the sealing of EVMs after elections. However, the apex court’s dismissal of petitions seeking a return to paper ballots has left many wondering if the EVMs are truly “unsinkable”.
To address concerns about EVMs, the Election Commission of India has introduced measures such as the verification of microcontroller chips embedded in EVMs. However, more needs to be done to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. As Justice Garewal notes: “The way to deal with such grievances is re-examine the procedures as long as serious grievances of one type or the other remain.”
The post Defining Democracy appeared first on India Legal.