People's mandate if they win and alleging EVM tampering if they lose. Usually such type of allegations have been made by the leaders and political parties badly defeated in the elections. The latest- case belongs to recently concluded elections to five state assemblies. First of all BSP Supremo Mayawati alleged the EVM tampering behind her defeat, Akhilesh Yadav said that whatever she has said should be investigated into. Congress also took its cognition while Arvind Kejriwal alleged that his votes were transferred to Akali Dal and Congress. However had the win and lose was by the virtue of the machine, BJP should not have lost anywhere. The Election Commission is making it clear time and again that these allegations are baseless and the voting through the EVM is fully secured. It is sad that no proof of hacking in voting through EVM within last 24 years has come forward so far. Nevertheless, these people don't hesitate to level such unrestrained, baseless charges. These people don't even bother that such allegations weaken the democratic process of the nation. People's trust and belief is the topmost in the election process. Nobody should be allowed to fragment it for EVM. I wish to submit some elementary facts before the readers. Since EVM has no connection with internet, it can't be hacked online. Which EVM should be given to which booth is decided through randomization i.e. all the EVMs are arranged Parliament-wise, then assembly-wise and finally booth-wise and the polling party comes to know the series of EVM just one day before at the time of despatching. As such the polling party is not aware of the EVM to be handed over. Basically the EVM has two machines – ballot unit and control unit. Presently a third unit VVPAT has also been added which displays a slip to the voter that to which candidate he has voted for. As such the voter is assured at the booth whether his vote is valid or not. All the EVMs are confidentially checked before the voting and the EVM is used for voting only after being assured in all respects. Most importantly before commencing the voting on the polling day, mock polling before the polling booth in-charges or the polling agents of all the candidates is held by the polling party and all the poling agents are asked to cast votes so that it may be ensured whether the votes are cast in favour of all the candidates or not. Had there been any tempering or defect in any machine, it may be noticed before the polling starts. After mock polling, polling agents of all the candidates issue a certificate of proper mock poll to the polling party. Voting in the concerned polling booth starts just after the certificate is issued. As such the candidate talking about the tempering in EVM may be assured from his polling agent in this regard. Any problem like battery down or the technical one in the polling booth after the commencement of voting is informed by the voter. A register is maintained in every polling booth which contains the details of the voters who vote and the number of details contained in the register is fed in the EVM also. These are mutually matched on the basis of report from the Returning Officer on the day of counting. No case of EVM tempering has been proved so far in the cases filed in the Supreme Court so far. The Election Commission itself invites the people to come to the Commission for submitting their claims to prove the EVM technique wrong. But for the last 24 years the EVM voting has started no claim has been proved till date. People blaming the EVM for their defeat are doing so as to mislead their supporters. Perhaps they want to escape the self-reflection as well as admitting the truth that they themselves are responsible for their defeat. These leaders should review their election strategy and avoid the unrestrained allegations on the foundation of the democracy.
* Anil Narendra
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