Page 243 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Chapter 10

Technology as Enabler

lection Commission of India took a futuristic longer possible to return to the outdated practice of
initiative by introducing the Electronic Voting voting by paper ballot with its attendant liabilities like
EMachine (EVM) in a bye-election in Kerala on prolonged counting process, menace of fraudulent
May 19, 1982. To the then Chief Election Commissioner voting, and pitfalls of invalid votes.
(1977-1982), S L Shakdher, the EVM was a potent
However, it is not merely convenience but credence that
instrument for preventing fraudulent voting in the
is equally at stake in the twenty-first century. To further
elections. An instance of indigenous technology,
increase the credibility of counting process, the Election
developed by two Public Sector Undertakings viz.
Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. and Bharat Commission of India chose to go a step ahead, and
introduced the VVPAT (Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)
Electronics Limited, who independently created two
in 2013 through which every voter of India can verify
prototypes in 1981, the EVM commanded several
where his/her vote has gone. Thus VVPAT, another
advantages. It reduced the counting time, eliminated
example of indigenous technology, has bolstered
invalid voting, and decimated bogus voting. The EVM was
to be a solution to the problem and dominance of muscle people's trust in the EVM. With universalisation of the
VVPAT machine in the Seventeenth General Elections,
power in the elections. It thus held out prospect of
making elections freer and fairer. While an adverse 2019 the EVM has registered its final victory. So far, not a
single case of difference in the tally of votes between
judgment of the Supreme Court on March 5, 1984 served
EVM and VVPAT has emerged.
to delay nationwide rollout of the EVM for nearly two
decades, the intrinsic merit of the machine has been Election Commission of India has always depended on
vindicated by time (and subsequent judicial latest technology both for backend and frontend activities.
pronouncements). For the Indian electorate, now inching One of the challenges associated with a colossal electorate
towards a one billion mark, the EVM has become an is maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll. A clean and
irreplaceable part of electoral management. It is no correct electoral roll is the backbone of sound elections. In

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