Dr. Udit Raj Leads Demands for Electoral Transparency, Calls for Return to Paper Ballot
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd Feb. Dr. Udit Raj, former Member of Parliament and spokesperson, along with the National Convenor of EVM Hatao Morcha, is spearheading efforts to seek clarification from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Despite attempts by the Congress Party and INDIA Alliance to engage with the ECI, they have faced obstacles. The EVM Hatao Morcha, a coalition of NGOs, social organizations, intellectuals, and citizens, initiated by Waman Meshram of BAMCEF and DOM (Dalit, OBC & Minorities) Parisangh, is gearing up to launch protests from Jantar Mantar on February 22, 2024.
The following pressing questions have been raised:
- The lack of transparency in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has eroded public trust, violating fundamental democracy principles.
- The design and implementation details of EVMs remain inaccessible to the public, fueling concerns about potential hacking and tampering.
- The Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system by the ECI lacks true voter verification, as voters cannot rectify incorrectly recorded votes.
- Contrary to ECI claims, EVM units necessitate external devices for candidate details, raising significant security concerns.
- Rule 56(D)(4)(b) highlights discrepancies between VVPAT and EVM counts, underscoring issues with EVM accuracy.
- Under the EVM system, ECI’s control over elections has waned, potentially infringing upon constitutional provisions.
- EVM manufacturers operate independently of ECI supervision, heightening concerns about software integrity.
- The EVM-VVPAT system lacks transparency compared to traditional paper ballots, raising doubts about the fairness of the voting process.
- Advocates argue for a return to paper ballots, citing advancements in supervision and security measures.
- The demand for paper ballots can be swiftly implemented through legal amendments and logistical arrangements.
Dr. Udit Raj underscored that these concerns have been raised with the ECI for over five years without satisfactory responses, leading to a widespread loss of trust among the Indian populace.
