EVM
- POLITY
News:
One person arrested for
propagating disinformation on EVM tampering
What's
in the news?
●
The Kerala Police have arrested one person
for circulating fake news alleging attempts to tamper the electronic voting
machines (EVMs) prior to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Electronic
Voting Machines (EVMs):
●
Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) allow the
citizens to vote electronically and ease the job of the Election Commission of
India in counting the votes.
Working
of EVMs:
●
EVMs are electronic voting machines which enable the voter with a button for
each choice of candidate. It is attached by a cable to an electronic ballot
box.
●
It comprises two units – control unit and balloting unit. They are connected by
a 5-metre cable.
●
The EVM runs on a 6-volt single alkaline
battery fixed in the control unit.
●
It can even be used in areas that have no electricity.
●
The control
unit is with the Election Commission selected polling officer.
●
The Balloting
Unit is in the voting section into which the voter enters to cast their
vote in secret by pressing the button against the name and sign of the
candidate of their choice.
Designed
by:
●
The EVMs were commissioned in 1989 by
Election Commission of India in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India
Limited.
Backdrop
of EVMs:
●
The Commission in December 1977 mooted the
idea of EVM to overcome certain problems associated with use of ballot papers
and taking advantage of development of technology so that voters cast their
votes correctly without any resultant ambiguity and removing the possibilities
of invalid votes totally.
●
It was first used in 1981 in the by-election to North Paravur Assembly
Constituency of Kerala in 50 polling
stations.
●
The law was amended by the Parliament in
December, 1988 and a new section 61A was inserted in the Representation of the
People Act, 1951 empowering the Commission to use voting machines. The amended
provision came into force with effect from 15th March, 1989.
Maximum
Number of Votes:
●
The Election Commission of India uses EVMs
that can only record up to 2,000 votes.
Maximum
Number of Candidates:
●
A maximum of 64 candidates, including
NOTA, can be accommodated by M2 EVMs (2006–2010).
●
The maximum
number of candidates who can use M3 EVMs (Post-2013) is 384, including NOTA.