Questions surrounding the transparency of the electoral process in India have reignited the debate on EVMs versus paper ballots. Opposition parties believe that public trust in EVMs has diminished and that paper ballots should be reinstated to enhance transparency. They argue that using paper ballots would reduce the chances of electoral fraud and make recounting easier in the event of disputes.
Many voters perceive that elections conducted using paper ballots would be more transparent, as voters can directly see and verify their votes. In the event of a dispute, paper ballots provide a straightforward opportunity for recounting or verification. This system minimizes the likelihood of errors due to the presence of physical evidence during counting.
However, the counting process with paper ballots can be significantly slower. Given the large number of voters in India, employing this system may not only be time-consuming but also costly. There are also concerns about potential issues such as fraudulent voting and tampering with ballot boxes, which are significantly reduced in the modern EVM system.
As a balanced approach, it has been suggested to incorporate technologies like VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) into EVMs, allowing each voter to verify their slip. Additionally, implementing third-party audits and more transparent data analysis by the Election Commission could also help resolve this debate.
The sustainability of trust in India’s democratic process is crucial. As technology advances, the Election Commission should adopt new security technologies and audit protocols to maintain voter confidence. There is a need for reformative measures to ensure the transparency and security of EVMs, thereby reinforcing the public’s trust in India’s democracy and its processes and policies.
#ElectoralTransparency #EVMs #PaperBallots
