India’s reliance on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has sparked a heated political debate. While the Election Commission touts them as efficient and secure, opposition parties allege they are tools for electoral manipulation. This controversy gains global significance as most democracies prefer paper ballots over electronic systems to ensure transparency.
By PC Bureau
After the one-sided Maharashtra election outcome, accusations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation have erupted with renewed intensity, as the entire opposition bloc—including the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), TMC, and even YSR Congress—has demanded the immediate reinstatement of ballot papers.
India’s use of EVMs has always been a flashpoint of political contention, with opposition parties repeatedly denouncing them as tools of electoral fraud and manipulation. These charges have stoked widespread distrust, despite the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) repeated assurances of their security and the introduction of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) to reinforce credibility.
Globally, very few countries use EVMs for voting. Notably, nations like the United States, Canada, and most of Europe rely heavily on paper ballots or hybrid systems. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland discontinued EVM use over concerns about transparency and potential tampering. In contrast, countries like Brazil and India, which use EVMs extensively, argue that they help combat fraud associated with paper ballots, such as ballot stuffing and booth capturing
.In India, EVMs were introduced to address electoral fraud and logistical challenges in a vast democracy with over 900 million eligible voters. They replaced paper ballots in 2000, providing a more efficient and tamper-resistant voting process.
However, opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns about EVMs’ security, alleging that results can be manipulated. Specific cases of EVMs being found in unauthorized locations and allegations of malfunctions during elections have heightened distrust. Critics argue for greater transparency, including increasing the percentage of VVPAT cross-verifications to build confidence in the system
While India continues to defend its EVM system as robust and secure, the limited adoption of such technology worldwide reflects broader concerns about ensuring transparency and public trust in electronic voting systems. These global reservations underscore the need for India to address doubts through stricter protocols, improved transparency, and better communication with stakeholders.
- Countries using EVMs extensively:
- India: EVMs have been used since 1998 in national elections.
- Brazil: National elections have been fully automated since 2000.
- Philippines: EVMs have been in use since 2010.
- Mongolia: Voting machines have been used since 2010.
- Namibia: The first African country to adopt EVMs in 2014.
- Estonia: Known for internet voting since 2005, alongside other electronic voting methods.
- Partial or experimental use:
- Some countries, such as Canada, France, Belgium, and Argentina, use EVMs in specific regions or local elections.
- The United States employs a mix of EVMs and optical scanners for over 90% of its vote counting, though manual counting persists in some states
.Trials or discontinued use:
- Nations like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Norway have tested electronic voting but reverted to traditional methods due to security, logistical, or public trust concerns.
As concerns over election integrity grow, several nations have turned their backs on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). From Germany and the Netherlands to Ireland and Japan, governments worldwide have cited security vulnerabilities, lack of transparency, and public distrust as reasons to abandon these machines in favor of paper-based voting systems. Explore how global skepticism is reshaping the conversation on electoral integrity.
