Tag: EVMs

  • Delayed Election Results Reminds Pakistan Of EVMs’ Efficiency | world news

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Arif Alvi expressed his frustration on Saturday over the postponed election results and stated that if the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been in use during the general elections on February 8, the nation would not be facing this current crisis, Geo News reported. Despite the commission’s lofty claims, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) new Election Management System (EMS) failed, he said.

    Notably, the election regulator has yet to release the preliminary results for every constituency, nearly seventy-two hours after the polls closed. In a post on social media platform President Alvi recalled the fight for the EVMs waged by the previous PTI-led government, saying that the entire endeavor–which involved more than 50 meetings at the presidency alone–was abandoned.

    “Remember ‘our’ long struggle for EVMs. EVM had paper ballots that could be counted separately by hand (like it is being done today) but it also had a simple electronic calculator/counter of each vote button pressed,” he said. The president, according to Geo News, said that the totals of every candidate would have been available and printed within five minutes of the closing of the poll if the machines were used.

    On February 10, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) staged a protest over alleged rigging and alteration of results in Sindh’s PS-22 constituency. “Our [JUI-F’s] the candidate was made to lose via [deliberate] change of results,” JUI-F leader Rashid Mehmood Soomro said. “We have won by [margin of] 7,000 votes as per the Form 45s in our possession,” he said while calling for fresh elections in multiple constituencies, according to Geo News.

    Amid the delay in the publication of Pakistan’s election results, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has given a call for a nationwide protest on Sunday to protect the sanctity of the vote as independent candidates are in the lead with 100 seats. According to the report, the decision comes after the party’s core committee meeting was held and it was announced to hold ‘peaceful protests’ across the country to protect the sanctity of the vote. The meeting also deliberated on election results and the future course of action.

    The core committee also discussed matters related to affiliation with specific political parties. Important decisions were made during the meeting, which the party said would be implemented after consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.

  • If EVMs not ‘fixed’ before Lok Sabha polls, BJP can win over 400 seats: Sam Pitroda

    NEW DELHI: Raising concerns over electronic voting machines, Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Thursday said the BJP can win more than 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if issues associated with EVMs are not “fixed”. The elections will be about deciding the destiny of India, he told PTI-Video in an interview.

    While the Election Commission has always dismissed apprehensions over EVMs and also held hackathons to clear any doubts, some opposition leaders, including from the Congress, have been repeatedly raising the issue of EVMs allegedly being open to manipulation.

    Many in the Congress have also asserted, including after the recent assembly polls in which the party lost some key heartland states, that they trust these machines. However, the Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding 100 per cent Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and that the slips should be given to voters rather than falling into boxes. Congress leader Pitroda also said that his recent comments on the Ram temple in Ayodhya were “twisted” and asserted that religion is a personal matter and should not be mixed with politics.

    He was quoted in reports as saying it bothers him that the entire nation is hung up on the Ram temple.

    On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Nyay Yatra ahead of the polls, Pitroda said, “The next election is about the future of India. What kind of nation we want to build.” “Do you want to build a nation articulated in our Constitution which respects all religions, autonomy of our institutions, which allows our civil society to function, or you want to build the nation based on one religion dominating?” he asked. Expressing concern over electronic voting machines (EVMs), Pitroda cited a report by NGO ‘The Citizens’ Commission on Elections’, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, and said that the main recommendations of the report were to modify the current design of the VVPAT system to make it truly “voter-verified”.

    “I waited for the Election Commission to respond but when it didn’t happen I decided to speak. It has nothing to do with the fact that elections in five states are over and the 2024 election is coming,” Pitroda said.

    “I feel there is a trust deficit based on this report. And, the Election Commission must respond to rebuild the trust,” he said.

    The Congress leader said he believes that democracy is derailed and “we are becoming too authoritarian”. “It’s all about one-man show,” he said.

    Asked about the BJP’s claim that it would win more than 400 seats in the general elections, he said,” More power to them if they think they can do it. Great. That is for the country to decide. EVM needs to be fixed before the next election. If EVM is not fixed, 400 may be true. If EVM is fixed 400 may not be true.”

    On his comments about the Ram temple, Pitroda said, “My comments on the Ram mandir got twisted. I am basically protecting the Constitution. I am saying that religion is a very personal matter, leave it to the people. Of course you celebrate, people should celebrate what they want to. But don’t complicate with politics.”

    Asked about opposition INDIA bloc, of which the Congress is also a part, not picking Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial face, Pitroda said, “The INDIA alliance is not projecting anybody for the PM post.”

    The alliance has collectively decided that “we get to that after the election because right now the priority is to mobilise 60 per cent of the people who don’t vote for the BJP”, he said and added that the members of the bloc will decide as a group who should be the prime ministerial candidate.

    “Collectively, the group decided that it will not project anybody as its PM candidate. Those are two out of how many who pitched (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge’s name. In a coalition like that there are bound to be some differences. That’s the beauty of a coalition,” Pitroda said.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, and her Delhi counterpart and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had pitched Kharge’s name as the bloc’s prime ministerial face at its meeting in Delhi on December 19.

    On the opposition face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pitroda said, “I don’t think that’s the right question to be asked. It is not a presidential election, it is a parliamentary election.”

  • Elector making false complaint over EVM malfunction must know consequence: SC

    The plea said holding an elector accountable for deviant behaviour of EVMs and VVPATs could deter them from coming forth and making any complaint which is essential for improving the process.

  • Big question mark over Election Commission’s fairness in last few years: Prashant Bhushan

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Sunday said the fairness of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come under cloud in the last few years.

    He accused the ECI of keeping mum when big leaders from the ruling party violate the poll code, while acting swiftly against the opposition parties in such cases, and also claimed that the schedule of elections is made keeping in mind the convenience of the government.

    Bhushan alleged that the independence of the judiciary is under threat and those speaking against the government face sedition and other serious charges, and they are not able to get bail for years.

    He was speaking on the topic ‘Challenges before Democracy ‘ during a programme organised here by ‘Deshonnati’, a Marathi daily.

    “After T N Seshan became the chief election commissioner, for many years we could see that the Election Commission was very fair and impartial. But in the last six to seven years, a big question mark has arisen on its fairness,” he said.

    The Election Commission takes action if the Model code of conduct is violated by the opposition parties. But it keeps quiet when big leaders from the ruling party violate it. We have been witnessing this for a very long time, he alleged.

    The election dates are prepared as per the convenience of the government, he said.

    “Earlier, even the government did not know what dates will be decided by the EC for elections. But now, it is being witnessed that representatives of the ruling party even before the formal announcement tell what the polling dates are and the same dates are later announced by the EC,” he said.

    “The reason for the EC not being fair anymore. The problem with this has always been the selection in the poll watchdog is done by the government and there is no independent selection committee. And now, what the government is doing is that it is selecting people mostly from Gujarat and they are those who will do what the government will ask them to do. This also is an issue before democracy,” he said.

    Bhushan also alleged that there was a lack of independence in all regulatory institutions, and termed it as one of the biggest problems. He said the judiciary was formed to protect the fundamental rights of people and to keep the legislature and the executive within limits.

    “But now we are seeing that this is not happening. Those speaking against the government are facing sedition and sometimes false cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They are not able to get bail for years and this is being done blatantly. Our judiciary is not able to act against it. Hence, the independence of the judiciary is also under threat,” he said.

    “Media is also being controlled by the government. The police agencies are also being used for political use. The selection of some agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Income Tax department is completely in the hands of the government, which has put democracy in real danger,” he alleged.

    On the electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said that although there was no significant manipulation in EVMs at present, in the coming times it cannot be ruled out.

    “There is a possibility of manipulation and I feel EVMs are very dangerous. Paper ballots should return and they have returned in most of the countries,” he said.

    In order to tackle these challenges, a number of reforms can be brought by introducing Initiatives and Referendum law, Pre-legislative Transparency and Consultation law, he said, adding that parliamentary committees should be revived.

    Since the opposition has become weak now, these reforms cannot be done by it alone and hence people need to raise their voices now. They can raise voices against unfair practices like which was done for the Lokpal Bill.

    People can launch big agitations on issues like unemployment and privatisation of public sector units, which will also strengthen the opposition, he said.

    Replying to a query by PTI on the sidelines of the programme about why the Supreme Court was not taking up the issue of electoral bonds on a priority basis, Bhushan said the government was not interested in the issue and probably they were stalling it.

    “However, with the new Chief Justice of India at the helm, the matter will be heard,” he said.

    Bhushan has filed a PIL challenging laws permitting funding of political parties through the electoral bond scheme.

    When asked whether the opposition parties would be able to put up a united fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next elections, he said he was not sure whether united opposition would be a good idea or not.

    “But, in any case, civil society needs to play a major role to any major political change is to be brought in the country,” he said.

    NAGPUR: Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Sunday said the fairness of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come under cloud in the last few years.

    He accused the ECI of keeping mum when big leaders from the ruling party violate the poll code, while acting swiftly against the opposition parties in such cases, and also claimed that the schedule of elections is made keeping in mind the convenience of the government.

    Bhushan alleged that the independence of the judiciary is under threat and those speaking against the government face sedition and other serious charges, and they are not able to get bail for years.

    He was speaking on the topic ‘Challenges before Democracy ‘ during a programme organised here by ‘Deshonnati’, a Marathi daily.

    “After T N Seshan became the chief election commissioner, for many years we could see that the Election Commission was very fair and impartial. But in the last six to seven years, a big question mark has arisen on its fairness,” he said.

    The Election Commission takes action if the Model code of conduct is violated by the opposition parties. But it keeps quiet when big leaders from the ruling party violate it. We have been witnessing this for a very long time, he alleged.

    The election dates are prepared as per the convenience of the government, he said.

    “Earlier, even the government did not know what dates will be decided by the EC for elections. But now, it is being witnessed that representatives of the ruling party even before the formal announcement tell what the polling dates are and the same dates are later announced by the EC,” he said.

    “The reason for the EC not being fair anymore. The problem with this has always been the selection in the poll watchdog is done by the government and there is no independent selection committee. And now, what the government is doing is that it is selecting people mostly from Gujarat and they are those who will do what the government will ask them to do. This also is an issue before democracy,” he said.

    Bhushan also alleged that there was a lack of independence in all regulatory institutions, and termed it as one of the biggest problems. He said the judiciary was formed to protect the fundamental rights of people and to keep the legislature and the executive within limits.

    “But now we are seeing that this is not happening. Those speaking against the government are facing sedition and sometimes false cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They are not able to get bail for years and this is being done blatantly. Our judiciary is not able to act against it. Hence, the independence of the judiciary is also under threat,” he said.

    “Media is also being controlled by the government. The police agencies are also being used for political use. The selection of some agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Income Tax department is completely in the hands of the government, which has put democracy in real danger,” he alleged.

    On the electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said that although there was no significant manipulation in EVMs at present, in the coming times it cannot be ruled out.

    “There is a possibility of manipulation and I feel EVMs are very dangerous. Paper ballots should return and they have returned in most of the countries,” he said.

    In order to tackle these challenges, a number of reforms can be brought by introducing Initiatives and Referendum law, Pre-legislative Transparency and Consultation law, he said, adding that parliamentary committees should be revived.

    Since the opposition has become weak now, these reforms cannot be done by it alone and hence people need to raise their voices now. They can raise voices against unfair practices like which was done for the Lokpal Bill.

    People can launch big agitations on issues like unemployment and privatisation of public sector units, which will also strengthen the opposition, he said.

    Replying to a query by PTI on the sidelines of the programme about why the Supreme Court was not taking up the issue of electoral bonds on a priority basis, Bhushan said the government was not interested in the issue and probably they were stalling it.

    “However, with the new Chief Justice of India at the helm, the matter will be heard,” he said.

    Bhushan has filed a PIL challenging laws permitting funding of political parties through the electoral bond scheme.

    When asked whether the opposition parties would be able to put up a united fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next elections, he said he was not sure whether united opposition would be a good idea or not.

    “But, in any case, civil society needs to play a major role to any major political change is to be brought in the country,” he said.

  • Assembly polls: Stage set for counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Counting of votes polled in the crucial Uttar Pradesh elections will take place on Thursday, the outcome of which will decide whether the BJP returns to power for the second consecutive term.

    “Counting in all the 75 districts of the state will begin at 8 am. The postal ballots will be counted first, and then the votes polled in the EVMs will be counted,” a senior election official told PTI.

    Almost all the exit polls have predicted that the BJP will return to power. They have forecast an increase in Samajwadi Party’s tally but not enough to form the government.

    The exit polls have forecast double-digit numbers for the BSP and single-digit count for the Congress.

    Both the SP and BSP have dismissed the exit polls, claiming that they would win the poll comfortably and form their government in the state, which has a 403-member assembly.

    If the BJP comes to power, it would be a record for a party getting re-elected in UP for a second term in over three decades.

    In 2017, BJP had won 312 seats on its own while NDA’s figure was 325. The SP had won 47, BSP 19 and the Congress had won seven seats, two less than Apna Dal (S) at nine.

    The BJP went in the polls this time with Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party while Akhilesh Yadav had formed a rainbow coalition with RLD and a string of regional parties, including Om Prakash Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP).

    Considering its bearing on the 2024 Parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath aggressively campaigned across the state to drum up support for the saffron party.

    On Tuesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of trying to “steal” votes and claimed a truck carrying EVMs was “intercepted” in Varanasi, but the Election Commission clarified that the machines were for training officials on counting duty and had not been used in elections.

    In a statement issued late on Tuesday night, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of UP said, “Rumours were spread by people of some political party by stopping the vehicle and alleging that these EVMs were used in elections.”

    According to the report sent by the District Election Officer (of Varanasi), it was found during the investigation that these EVMs were marked for training. “Training has been organised for March 9 (Wednesday),” it had said.

    The voting for the politically-important state was done in seven rounds starting February 10.

    For the opposition, Akhilesh addressed 131 rallies and roadshows to take on the pantheon of leaders from the ruling camp.

    Mayawati, whose absence on the ground had initially triggered speculations that BSP was out of the power race, also hit the streets in favour of her party nominees.

    Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who led the party from the front in UP, attended 209 rallies and roadshows, maximum among top leaders of various parties, in a bid to regain lost ground for her party in the Hindi heartland.

    Sonia Gandhi virtually addressed voters in her Rae Bereli constituency while Rahul Gandhi addressed two rallies – one in Amethi and another in Varanasi.

    Elaborating about arrangements on March 10, the election official said, “Covid protocols, including the use of hand gloves, sanitisers, masks, thermal scanners and adhering to social distancing norms, will be followed at the counting centres throughout the state.”

    “The votes cast through postal ballots, including those by people with disabilities and senior citizens above 80 years, will be counted manually, while the votes of the service voters — ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System) will be done online,” he said.

    Apart from this, VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) slips of five machines will be counted in every assembly constituency.

    The Supreme Court had on April 8, 2019 directed the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs to five polling booths per assembly segment, from one, during the then Lok Sabha polls, saying it will provide greater satisfaction not just to political parties but to the entire electorate.

    Video and static cameras have been installed at all the counting centres, the official said, adding media centres have also been set up there.

    “Adequate AROs (Assistant Returning Officers) have been deployed in every assembly constituency for interruption-free counting,” the senior official said.

    Elaborating on the security arrangements, the official said a three-layer security set-up has been made comprising of central police forces, PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) and the state police.

    A total of 250 companies of CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces) have been provided to all the districts and commissionerates on March 10, the police said.

    According to officials, a CAPF company usually has around 70-80 personnel. Of the 250, 36 companies have been earmarked for EVM security and 214 for maintaining law and order. Besides the CAPFs, 61 companies of PAC have also been provided to all districts, they said.

    Officials said 625 gazetted officers of UP Police; 1,807 inspectors; 9,598 sub-inspectors, 11,627 head constables and 48,649 constables have also been put on duty.

    The Model Code of Conduct came into force on January 8 after the announcement of polls in Uttar Pradesh by the Election Commission.

  • Disclose number of EVMs, VVPATs that showed defects in firmware audit: CIC

    The information was denied to the activist citing section 8 (1)(d) of the RTI Act which allows exemption of information pertaining to commercial confidence from disclosure.

  • SC rejects plea seeking 100 per cent matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs vote count

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a plea seeking 100 per cent matching of the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) vote count in the elections, saying it will not interfere in the middle of poll process.

    “We are not going to interfere in the middle of election process,” a bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said.

    The Assembly election process is on in five states including West Bengal and the counting of votes for all the seats be held on May 2.

    The bench asked the counsel, appearing for petitioner Gopal Seth, as to whether they had made any representation to the Election Commission (EC) on this.

    “Yes.

    They (EC) had appreciated our representation,” the counsel said, adding that free and fair election is a right of the people.

    He said the petitioner had earlier approached the Calcutta High Court on this issue.

    The counsel argued the high court had said that the apex court had earlier passed order on this.

    “The special leave petition is dismissed. As a sequel to the above, pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of,” the bench said in its order.

    In April 2019, the apex court had directed the EC to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs to five polling booths per assembly segment in the Lok Sabha polls and said it would provide greater satisfaction not just to political parties but the entire electorate.

    Prior to that, the EC followed a system of random counting of VVPAT slips in one polling booth per assembly segment of a Parliamentary or Assembly constituency.

    The top court had observed in 2019 that it was not doubting the fairness and integrity of the existing electoral process saying, “we are certain that the system ensures accurate electoral results”.

  • Mamata questions EVMs fearing defeat, says PM Modi

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  Unleashing a blistering attack on the West Bengal chief minister on Sunday, Prime Minister Narandra Modi said Mamata Banerjee is repeatedly questioning the credibility of EVMs due to her fear of defeat. “You are questioning about EVMs’ functioning. These EVMs gifted you 10 years in power. Now you are questioning because you are anticipating your defeat,” the PM said at a rally in Bankura on the second day of his visit to the state. 

    Claiming that wall posters put up by the TMC showed Banerjee kicking at his head, Modi said if the Bengal CM wants, she can put her foot on his head and kick him but not the state’s development and the dreams of people living here. “I saw Didi’s men drawing pictures on walls where Didi is playing football with my head,” he said, questioning why the TMC supremo was insulting the heritage and culture of Bengal.

    The state has a long tradition of using wall etchings of cartoons and grafitti for political messaging.Modi’s attack is believed to be in backdrop of Mamata’s slogan Khela Hobe (there will be a game) which she is raising in poll campaigns. Modi’s speech on Sunday centred around the CM as he hit out at her on several issues. “Didi, you have made only false announcements in the last 10 years. Had people known about your governance, they would not have elected you 10 years ago. You keep saying Khela Hobe when people have decided to Khela Shesh Hobe (the game will be over),” said Modi.

    Reiterating the issues of cut-money and corruption, Modi said after wresting power, the BJP-led government will drag all those who are involved in the malpractice to the court of law. The saffron camp has engaged its heavy artillery in south Bengal as Union Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed a rally in East Midnapore district and came down heavily on the Bengal CM. Hitting out at her on aunt-nephew issue, Shah said, “Corruption and cut-money have shattered the dreams of poor people in the state. The cut-money that your nephew earns reaches you too. The electorate of the state will give a befitting reply to you in the upcoming Assembly elections,” said Shah.

  • Most promises kept, Amarinder Singh sad about  Centre’s farm stand

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: Despite his Congress party sweeping the recent civic body elections where electronic voting machines (EVM) were used for the first time in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has advocated reverting to ballot papers. He thinks EVMs can be manipulated.  Talking on the occasion of completing four years at the helm in Punjab, Amarinder also claimed that his government has fulfilled 85 per cent promises made in the manifesto of 2017. He said this is a record, bettering the mark of 81 per cent set by  Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh.

    “I support reverting to the paper ballot system. In this electronic age, why are advanced countries like Japan, Sweden, UK, Norway not using EVMs? They  know this can be manipulated. Why are we using them?” he asked. Amarinder opposed the policy of excessive regionalisation followed in certain states. “I believe India is one country. Too much regionalisation is not good,” he said,  responding to a question on job reservation for local youth in neighbouring Haryana. “If we start regionalising, we will suffer,” he warned.

    Making it clear that his government was opposed to the Centre’s farm laws, Amarinder urged the government to bring in new laws after discussions with farmers. However, Amarinder added that he could not see a middle path to break the stalemate. “What’s the point in making it a prestige issue? How many more farmers do you want to kill? They are poor farmers sitting there, with women and elderly,” he said, pointing out that Punjab has lost 112 farmers since the agitation began.

    Asked about Navjot Singh Sidhu’s reinclusion in the state cabinet, the chief minister said: “Everyone wants him to be part of our team.” He sounded hopeful that Sidhu would take a positive decision soon. Amarinder said he would also be happy to have Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Dhullo as part of the team. “In a difficult hour, you have to set aside your own ambitions and stand with the party,” he said.Taking serious note of the increase in drone movement from across the border, Amarinder said: “As long as I am here, no Khalistani or Pakistani or any other terrorist activity will be allowed to disturb the peace of the state.”