EVMs are still our best bet
ECI should ensure that the process is credible, transparent
The recent by-polls for four Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Nagaland and nine assembly seats in a range of other states have triggered a major political controversy. Political parties in general — and the Opposition led by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal in particular — alleged there had been rampant malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Audit Trail Machines (VVPATs), which had been used in all booths. The Election Commission of India (ECI) dismissed reports of large-scale malfunctioning as “exaggerated”, and said 96 balloting units, 84 control units of EVMs, and 1,202 VVPATs had to be replaced. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had first alluded to manipulation of EVMs as the cause of its defeat in Punjab. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati also blamed EVMs after her devastating loss in Uttar Pradesh. In its plenary in March, the Congress called for a return to the ballot paper. ECI, in response to these concerns, had last year invited all parties to scrutinise the operation of EVMs; it has also introduced VVPATs in all booths to ensure that there is verification. Ironically, some of these machines malfunctioned on Monday.
It is important for all sides to step back and first understand that at stake is the very integrity of the democratic process. This faith in the election system, voting process, the outcome that emerges out of the process, has given India constitutional and democratic stability. It has enabled a smooth transfer of power from one government to another. It has ensured that despite anger and disillusionment with political regimes, the majority of citizens remain wedded to peaceful methods of political change. And that is why any criticism must be made with care. Parties are right to raise concerns. But they must not interpret the malfunctioning of a few units of VVPATs to suggest that the entire EVM machine model is flawed. At the same time, ECI must recognise that there is now a substantial section of political opinion which has doubts about the integrity of EVMs; the onus lies on it to make the process even more robust, be fully transparent and allay doubts; and ensure that efficiency does not come at the cost of credibility.