EVM - Electronic voting machine- Informative Article by Prof Manisha

 

EVM - Electronic voting machine

The full form of EVM is an Electronic Voting Machine. EVM is an electronic device used to record votes. It is an instrument used for implementing electronic voting in Indian State and General Elections

History of EVM

·         M.. B. Haneefa created the first voting machine in India in 1980.

·         EVM machine’s initial version was displayed to the public at various Government Exhibitions organized in six different cities throughout Tamil Nadu.

·         In 1982 EVM was first used for a limited number of voting booths in the election of Paravur constituency in Kerala.

·         In 1989 EVM was approved by Election Commission of India in partnership with Electronics Corporation of India Limited.

Advantages of EVM

• EVM reduces the chance of doubtful or invalid votes
• EVM provides a faster way than the conventional method of calculating votes.
•  It preserves the effort and money of the election staff.
• It is an eco friendly approach because it does not involve the use of paper that helps save trees.
• EVM is a cost-effective method because only one ballot paper or document is required in each voting place, and the transportation costs of EVM are also lower than the traditional ballot boxes.
• It can be carried or moved from one location to the next without any difficulty.
• In less time, more people will be able to cast votes.
• The data can be stored to future reference for a prolonged period.

Usage of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in India

Earlier in the elections that were conducted in India, the voters used to choose their candidates by putting a stamp on the ballot paper. A sheet of paper which had the list of contesting candidates, along with their party symbol and party name is known as the ballot paper.

In the entire India, the EVMs were used for the first time in the 2004 general elections. As EVMs were used in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, it helped to save around 1,50,000 trees. If EVMs were not used in 2004 Lok Sabha elections then it would have resulted in the loss of these many trees to produce 8,000 tons paper for printing the ballot papers.

The EVMs will have symbols of the party, names of the candidates, name of the candidate’s party. If independent candidates are contesting the elections, their symbols will also be shown. Voters have to simply press the button given in front of the candidate’s name and the vote gets recorded. After the completion of polling, the EVMs are sealed and taken to a secure place. On a fixed date, all the EVMs from a constituency are opened and the votes secured by each candidate are counted.

 Submitted by

Prof.Manisha

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.