ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE (EVM)
- An electronic voting machine (EVM) serves as a portable device utilized in the electoral process for parliamentary, legislative, and local body elections, including panchayats and municipalities.
- The EVM operates on microcontroller technology, aiming to modernize the election process while ensuring the elimination of invalid votes and maintaining the utmost secrecy of voting data. Additionally, it expedites the counting process, ensuring accuracy. The recorded voting data within EVMs can be stored for extended periods and retrieved when necessary.
- This technological system is dependable for conducting elections where a single candidate must be elected from multiple options, as it is configured for one position and one vote per voter. Utilizing the EVM, voters can cast their ballots for their preferred candidate or select the "None of the Above" (NOTA) option, which is provided in each machine for voters who opt not to support any contestant.
- In 1989, India's Election Commission (EC), in collaboration with two central government entities — the Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) — developed the nation's own Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). These machines saw their inaugural use during the 1999 Goa State Assembly elections
3. How does it work?
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To indicate their choice, a voter must press the button corresponding to the preferred candidate, prompting a red light to illuminate next to the candidate's name and symbol. Additionally, a prolonged beep will sound, confirming the successful casting of the vote.
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Inside the polling booth, the presiding officer will activate the ballot unit once the voter enters the designated compartment.
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To select a candidate, press the blue button adjacent to their name and symbol on the ballot unit.
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Upon selection, the candidate's name or symbol will be highlighted by a glowing red light, accompanied by an audible beep.
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Subsequently, the voter will receive a printed ballot slip featuring the selected candidate's name, symbol, and a serial number
- An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) comprises two components: a control unit and a balloting unit, interconnected by a five-meter cable.
- The control unit is assigned to a polling officer, while the balloting unit is placed within a compartment for voters to cast their votes. EVMs are adaptable even in areas lacking electricity, as they can operate using alkaline batteries.
- In the polling station, the control unit remains under the supervision of the Presiding Officer and is positioned inside the voting compartment, responsible for tallying the votes. Conversely, the balloting units are stationed within the voting compartment to facilitate voters in casting their ballots.
- The balloting unit offers voters blue buttons labeled horizontally with party symbols and corresponding candidate names. In contrast, the Control Unit provides the officer-in-charge with a 'Ballot' marked button, allowing them to proceed to the next voter without issuing a physical ballot paper
5.Controversy around the use of EVMs
The employment of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has stirred controversy in various regions due to concerns over their reliability, security, and transparency. Some of the controversies surrounding EVMs include:
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Security Concerns: Critics argue that EVMs are susceptible to tampering and hacking, which could compromise the integrity of election results. There have been allegations of EVM manipulation through malicious software or physical tampering, raising doubts about the fairness of elections.
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Lack of Transparency: The opaque nature of EVMs, particularly regarding the inner workings of the software and hardware, has been a point of contention. Critics argue that without a paper trail or verifiable audit mechanism, it's challenging to ensure the accuracy of election outcomes and detect any potential malfunctions or manipulation.
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Limited Accessibility: EVMs may pose challenges for certain demographics, such as elderly voters or those with disabilities, who may find it difficult to operate the electronic interface. This raises concerns about the inclusivity and accessibility of the electoral process.
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Trust and Confidence: Public trust in EVMs is crucial for the legitimacy of election results. However, controversies surrounding EVMs, including allegations of malfunctioning or tampering, can undermine trust in the electoral process and lead to doubts about the validity of election outcomes.
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Legal Challenges: In some cases, legal challenges have been filed questioning the legality or constitutionality of using EVMs in elections. These challenges often revolve around issues such as the absence of a paper trail, the reliability of electronic systems, and the potential for manipulation
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a mechanism introduced to enhance the transparency and credibility of electronic voting systems, particularly Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). VVPAT provides a physical paper trail that allows voters to verify that their vote has been accurately recorded by the EVM.
Here's how VVPAT works:
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Paper Record: When a voter casts their vote using an EVM, the VVPAT system prints a paper slip containing the details of the vote, including the name and symbol of the candidate selected by the voter. This paper slip is visible through a transparent window for a few seconds before being automatically cut and dropped into a sealed box.
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Verification by Voter: The voter can visually inspect the printed paper slip to confirm that it accurately reflects their chosen candidate. This allows voters to verify that their vote has been cast as intended.
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Audit Trail: The paper slips collected in the sealed box serve as a physical audit trail of the electronic votes recorded by the EVM. In case of any dispute or recount, these paper slips can be used to verify the accuracy of the electronic results.
- The Representation of the People Act, 1981 is a significant legislation in India that primarily deals with the conduct of elections and the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of Parliament and State Legislatures. However, there is no such legislation by the name "Representation of the People Act, 1981."
- Instead, the primary legislation governing elections in India is the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This Act has been amended several times, including in 1981, to accommodate changes in electoral processes, procedures, and to address emerging issues related to elections.
- The Representation of the People Act, 1951, covers various aspects of elections, including the preparation of electoral rolls, delimitation of constituencies, qualifications and disqualifications for membership of Parliament and State Legislatures, conduct of elections, election offences and disputes, and the powers and functions of the Election Commission of India.
- It's important to note that while the Representation of the People Act, 1951, remains the primary legislation governing elections, there have been amendments and additions made over the years to address evolving electoral practices and challenges
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For Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance For Mains: Governance, Constitution and Polity. |
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Previous Year Questions
Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017) 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body. 2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 3 only Answer (d) The election commission has three election commissioners, one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.Election commission decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. Hence statement 2 is incorrect. It also decides the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognized political parties. Hence only statement 3 is correct. Mains In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India? (2018) |
