Although the electronic voting machines were first introduced at the national level for parliamentary elections in 2004, the steps for introducing such a device were taken several years before. We had the conventional ballot paper voting, which is in vogue in many countries even now. The Election Commission replaced the ballot paper system because of its inherent infirmities.
Broadly, EVMs prevent manipulations in the ballot paper system, including booth captures. They also eliminated invalid votes and helped save paper and time. EVMs are manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited, both public sector undertakings, as against the experiment conducted in the US where the EVMs were manufactured by a private company. This is a very important difference.
When I took over as chief election commissioner in February 2004, the commission had to decide on using EVMs on the basis of the experience gained from the (initial) use of the machines in some Assembly elections and by-elections. The decision to implement the use of EVMs in about eight lakh polling stations was based on the report of an expert committee headed by DRDO technical expert S. Sampath. When the machines were tried in some Assembly polls and byelections, voters uniformly welcomed the change. This was, however, different from the response of some political parties, which questioned the credibility of the machines. It is significant to note that the Supreme Court had also cleared the use of EVMs after some petitions were filed challenging its use. The two political parties that had challenged the use of the machines came to power through the use of these very machines in the subsequent elections.
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
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COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
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Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock