https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

EVMs Fail to Meet Democratic Standards, Claims Former IAS Officer

Retired IAS officer MG Devasahayam, coordinator for the Citizen Commission on Elections (CCE), states that political parties' criticism of the EVM-VVPAT system is often based on convenience rather than scientific evidence. The CCE's study concludes that EVMs do not comply with fundamental democratic principles.
MG Devasahayam
Indian Masterminds Stories

The 2024 General Election of India has concluded, with the BJP-led NDA forming the government and Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. However, this election brought some surprises. For the first time since 2014, the BJP fell short of a majority, winning only 240 seats. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, saw significant growth, securing 234 seats in total.

Unlike previous elections, there was less talk or criticism about the efficiency of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, the debate is far from over. Retired IAS officer Mr. MG Devasahayam, who is also the coordinator for the Citizen Commission on Elections (CCE), asserts that political parties criticize the EVM-VVPAT system based on their convenience rather than scientific evidence. The CCE, formed after the 2019 general elections, conducted a scientific study with experts from around the world and concluded that EVMs do not comply with the basic principles of democracy.

This finding suggests that the debate over the reliability of EVMs is ongoing and remains a critical issue for ensuring democratic integrity in India.

In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, retired officer and columnist Mr. Devasahayam shared his concerns. He said, “As a civil servant, I’ve conducted many elections, from local to general. To the public, voting might seem straightforward, but we know what happens behind the scenes. In our commission, we studied different voting methods and found that EVMs lack complete verifiability. There are serious concerns that can’t be ignored. We have submitted our report to the Election Commission of India, but they are not open to any debate or discussion.”

END TO END VERIFIABILTY 

In any democracy, citizens should be able to confirm that their vote was cast as intended, recorded correctly, and counted accurately. The EVM-VVPAT system fails to ensure this. VVPAT only verifies that the vote was cast as intended. Mr. Devasahayam claims there have been reports of discrepancies where something different is recorded than what was shown. Additionally, the VVPAT slips are not counted. “Many senior citizens and those unfamiliar with the system may not be able to verify the slips. They count what voters haven’t seen; they don’t actually count the slips,” says the retired officer.

In a democracy, voting is not merely a routine exercise to elect a leader. “Every eligible citizen has the right to vote, and through their votes, they transfer their sovereignty. Therefore, they have the right to ensure their vote is counted accurately and without any manipulation,” adds the officer.

ONLY HUMAN ERROR IS POSSIBLE 

Mr. Devasahayam argues that the time taken to count votes using ballot papers and EVMs is almost the same, so efficiency is not a concern. “All advanced democracies with advanced technology still use ballot papers because they are the gold standard,” he says.

Addressing concerns about vote manipulation and human error, he explains that with ballot papers, errors are limited to tens or hundreds and are only human mistakes. However, with EVMs, there is room for both human and mechanical errors, potentially affecting millions of votes. “With ballot papers, we can trace where an error happened, but EVMs increase the scope for manipulation. We can’t determine who tampered with the system or from where,” he explains.

He also mentions that the issue of booth capturing is outdated. “In the past, we lacked good transportation, communication, or security, but now we have ultra-modern technology. Communication is instantaneous, and any mishap can be investigated. This isn’t possible with the EVM-VVPAT system,” Mr. Devasahayam points out.

In essence, he believes that the traditional ballot paper system is more transparent and reliable. Despite technological advancements, the potential for manipulation and error in EVMs remains a significant concern, making ballot papers the preferred choice in many advanced democracies.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
ED _Enforcement_Directorate
ED Sends Fresh Notice to Nikant Jain, Close Aide of Suspended IAS Abhishek Prakash, Amid Ongoing Probe
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
NTPC_Tapovan Donates_Ambulance_
NTPC Hands Over ₹30 Lakh Advanced Life Support Ambulance to Chamoli District Hospital to Boost Emergency Healthcare
NTPC_Barauni_signed_agreement_
NTPC Barauni to Install 89 High-Mast Lights Across Begusarai to Boost Safety and Community Development
BPCL_bags_Excellence_Awards_
BPCL Wins Top Honours for City Gas Distribution and Customer Service at 19th PNGRB Foundation Day
Allahabad high court
SC Collegium Approves Appointment of Vinai Kumar Dwivedi as Judge of Allahabad High Court
JK Cement Health Camp Panna
Free Health Camp Organised for Forest Personnel During Wildlife Week 2025 by South Panna Forest Division
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
14_07_2021-ips_swarn_prabhat_21830694
IPS Swarn Prabhat: Transforming Motihari Through Smart Policing and Community Safety
ED _Enforcement_Directorate
ED Sends Fresh Notice to Nikant Jain, Close Aide of Suspended IAS Abhishek Prakash, Amid Ongoing Probe
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT