- Tampering Allegations: Accusations that EVMs can be manipulated to alter election results.
- Security Concerns: Questions about the security measures in place to protect EVMs from tampering or hacking.
- Lack of Transparency: Criticisms regarding the lack of transparency in the design and operation of EVMs, including the inability to verify votes independently.
- Reliability Issues: Instances where EVMs malfunctioned or experienced technical glitches during elections, raising doubts about their reliability.
- Voter Confidence: Concerns that controversies surrounding EVMs can undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
- Legal Challenges: Legal battles over the use of EVMs, including cases alleging electoral fraud or seeking to ban their use.
- Demand for Paper Trail: Calls for the implementation of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) to provide a paper record of votes cast electronically.
- International Scrutiny: Scrutiny from international observers and organizations regarding the use of EVMs and their impact on electoral integrity.
- Political Debate: EVM controversies often become highly politicized, with different parties and stakeholders advocating for or against their use based on their perceived advantages or disadvantages.
- Electoral Reforms: Discussions about potential reforms to address concerns related to EVMs, such as improving security measures, enhancing transparency, or adopting alternative voting technologies.
These controversies highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the use of EVMs in elections and the need for continuous evaluation and improvement of electoral processes to ensure fairness, transparency, and public trust.
Cases :-
- Cases: 1 Certainly, here are a few notable cases related to controversies surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs):
- India – 2009 General Elections: Following the 2009 general elections in India, several political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), raised concerns about the integrity of EVMs, alleging tampering and demanding a return to paper ballots.
- United States – 2016 Presidential Election: In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, there were allegations of potential hacking or tampering with electronic voting systems, particularly in states where the margin of victory was narrow.
- Kenya – 2017 Presidential Election: In Kenya’s 2017 presidential election, opposition leader Raila Odinga challenged the results, alleging that the electronic voting system had been compromised and manipulated to favor the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta. The Supreme Court of Kenya annulled the election results, citing irregularities in the electronic transmission of results.
- Brazil – 2018 Presidential Election: During Brazil’s 2018 presidential election, there were concerns about the reliability and security of the electronic voting system, with some politicians and activists calling for a return to paper ballots amid fears of hacking and manipulation.
- Nigeria – 2019 General Elections: In Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, there were reports of technical glitches and malfunctions with EVMs, leading to delays and disruptions in the voting process. Opposition parties accused the ruling party of using EVMs to rig the elections.
These cases illustrate the diverse range of controversies and challenges associated with the use of EVMs in different countries and electoral contexts.