EVM

Most developed countries are in disfavour of the electronic voting machines(EVM). We are making full use of it albeit suppressed disgruntlement in many instances. As a voter i ask myself; how safe is our EVM? Can it be rigged? Is the storage reliable? Is it foolproof? There are more questions than answers. Although ECB is doing a great job in voter education, there are more confused voters like me afraid of the machine which might at some time malfunction and give different result in the end. It's good to embrace advancement through technology but shouldn't we weigh pros and cons? If the EVM stopped working in between its replaced instantly during voting day. The votes cast is believed to be stored in the EVM which stopped working inbetween; the question disturbing voters is- if the EVM can stop working, isn't there chances of votes cast giving different counts?

In the last NC elections I opted for voting through facilitation booth. I am satisfied and assured that my vote really did went to the candidate I chose, there is no concern for error. The election officers there literally fills our form, and all we need to do is choose our candidate and seal it in an envelope- done. It's more work for ECB, but for a young democracy like ours, trust should be our priority. There was a wild rumours in my village during the last LG elections; 'EVM will read the voters thumbprint, candidates will know who voted for them and who didn't'. There isn't an ounce of truth in it, it was just a rumour, but then rumours spread faster than truth and knowing our villagers, they have the tendency to believe easily. Voters' trust for free and fair elections is the must. If fears, although unsubstantiated, runs through their veins then ours will always remain a 'young democracy' even after 20 years down the line.

In a few months time we will head for poll to choose our government. No doubt ECB will educate the voters like always, they might also replace the old EVMs which has served more than twice it's life span, but how far voters like me will trust the EVM will remain an unanswered question. I am hoping against hope that EVMs will not come to haunt us after the poll day. I am not qualified to suggest an option, I can only choose one for myself,and that will be facilitation booth or postal ballot if ECB gives the opportunity again. For me it's easier, reliable and satisfactory at its best. Because I am opting for this, I am not discouraging voters from voting via EVM. who knows, EVM might be reliable and I am wrong all along, but as a voter I am sharing my concern without any suggestions, which I am leaving for the experts to come up and put in place for free and fair elections not only in words but in reality too.

Source: Writer Association of Bhutan