Stories
INDIA Bloc Demands Return to Ballot Papers as EVM Debate Resurfaces
- •The INDIA bloc marched to the Election Commission headquarters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a return to ballot-paper voting.
- •India transitioned from traditional paper ballots to Electronic Voting Machines to overcome challenges like invalid votes, stuffing, and slow manual counting.
- •Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail units were introduced to provide a physical paper trail and ensure transparency in electronic voting.
- •The Supreme Court in April 2024 rejected petitions seeking a return to ballot papers and 100 percent VVPAT verification.
Key Questions Answered
The Election Commission explored electronic voting to address the challenges of the paper-ballot system, which included invalid votes from improper marking or smudging, ballot-box stuffing, pre-marked ballots, and slow manual counting processes. EVMs and subsequent VVPAT systems were introduced to make voting and counting more efficient while ensuring a verifiable physical paper trail.
A Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail unit is connected to the EVM and produces a physical slip containing the candidate's serial number, name, and symbol when a vote is cast. The voter can briefly view this slip through a transparent window before it automatically drops into a sealed compartment, allowing independent verification of the electronic vote.
The INDIA bloc revived demands for paper ballots during protests at Nirvachan Sadan, raising allegations over the electoral process, the Special Intensive Revision exercise, and voter enrolment forms, alongside calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
