Centre opposes use of totaliser machines that hide voting trend

TOTALISER MACHINES SERVE TO HIDE THE BOOTHWISE VOTING PATTERN BY COUNTING VOTES OF AROUND 14 BOOTHS TOGETHER

NEWDELHI: The Centre opposed on Monday the use of a “totaliser” in the electronic voting machines (EVMS), saying its installation could cause breach of data even before the counting of votes begin.

Additional solicitor general (ASG) Maninder Singh made this submission before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, which is hearing two petitions favouring use of totaliser machines, serves to hide the booth-wise voting pattern by counting votes of around 14 booths together.

At present, the votes are tallied one booth at a time, giving the political parties information on areas that voted least for their winning candidates in a particular constituency. This, according to the petitioners, often leads to political parties “intimidating the voters”.

The Election Commission of India has supported the use of totalisers. But ASG Singh, arguing on behalf of the central government, said that political parties have strongly opposed the machine. “At a time when there are allegations of tampering of EVMS, a totaliser can lead to further problems,” he told the bench when it enquired from him as to why has the Centre not amended the law allowing the use of totaliser for counting of votes through EVMS.

“Parties have expressed apprehension that there will be an outflow of data because to install a totaliser, the EVM has to be de-sealed,” Singh submitted. Amit Sharma, advocate for the Election Commission, told the bench that he wanted two weeks to file an updated response, even though the body has already filed an affidavit in support of the petitioners’ appeal.

The poll regulator will place its latest recommendations and letters it has sent to the government on the issue. The court gave Sharma time to file the affidavit and also allowed the Centre to respond.

The Centre had rejected the EC’S two key demands — use of totaliser machines and seeking powers to cancel polls in case of voter bribery — early last year.