Introduction

The introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) revolutionized India’s electoral process. However, recent controversies about their tampering and security pose challenges to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in maintaining public trust.

Body

1.Challenges in Ensuring Trustworthiness

i.Allegations of Tampering: Claims of hacking undermine confidence. Despite the ECI's demonstration of EVMs’ security, skepticism remains.

ii.Transparency Issues: Lack of public awareness about EVM functionality creates distrust.

iii.Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT): Limited use of VVPAT for verification raises concerns about cross-checking results. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, only 5% of EVMs underwent VVPAT verification.

iv.Cybersecurity Threats: Growing concerns over foreign interference and sophisticated cyber-attacks demand robust safeguards.