No flip-flops

Complaints about Indias electronic voting machines.

Complaints about Indias electronic voting machines have been limited to the angry,who have lost elections,and the suspicious,who see conspiracies everywhere. In a liberal democracy,of course,even such views need to be consciously engaged,and the technological basis for confidence in our voting systems restated firmly as many times as is necessary. But engagement in order to reassure is not,sadly,how questioning about EVMs have often been met recently.

The first rumblings over EVMs came from some in the BJP and were given added flight by some other political parties,all of whom were disappointed following the 2009 general election results that put the UPA back in power. At that time,the Congress (and the Election Commission) took the high road,pointing out how fears that the machines could be tampered with were groundless. But,following the Gujarat local polls,the Congress was quick to shift the blame to EVMs.

Its therefore important that the EC not appear to have distanced itself from the machines and the latest round of charges,as it initially appeared to be doing,stating that the machines used in the Gujarat civic polls were not provided by them. Fortunately,the EC subsequently reiterated that it has full confidence in the non-tamperability of EVMs. Indias democracy has always maturely accepted election results. Given that,its worrying that an under-informed anti-EVM sentiment is being allowed to put down roots. At the highest level,from the two national parties,the tone has been all wrong,not open and engaging,but instead shortsighted and hasty by turn. Other actions too have not helped,as demonstrated by the ill-advised arrest of an anti-EVM campaigner. It would not be too much of an overstatement to say that the continued legitimacy of Indias elections depends on the pillars of our electoral system being more careful. Those criticising the operations of EVMs should ensure they first have weighty evidence to back up comments that could be very impactful.