JOURNEY FROM BALLOT PAPERS TO EVMS: HOW INDIA VOTES

What happens when a constitutional body entrusted with conducting fair and transparent elections of the largest democracy in the world comes under intense scanner? This research study depicts the transformation in the process of conducting elections in India. A comprehensive study exhibiting the journey from archaic voting process involving ballot papers to the latest electronic voting machines. But as serious doubts have been casted even on the technological soundness of these electronic machines especially keeping in mind that various advanced countries have junked these machines and preferred ballot papers, a debate ensued in India to replace the same with the traditional method of ballot papers. However disregarding all these allegations, Election Commission of India has moved a step ahead and announced to introduce these electronic voting machines with voter verifiable paper audit trail, a method providing feedback to the voters verifying if their vote has gone to the intended candidate. This method will eliminate the chances of electronic voting machines getting tampered and will immensely restore the confidence of the voter in the electoral system making his vote count in the real sense.