Opposition MPs renew call for paper ballots, question trust in EVMs

Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday made a strong pitch for returning to paper ballots in elections, arguing that it would restore public confidence in the electoral process amid recurring questions over the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Participating in a debate on ‘Election Reforms’, several opposition MPs contended that reverting to paper ballots was a fair and necessary proposition. The government, however, has repeatedly ruled out any such move, maintaining that EVMs have made elections faster, safer and more efficient.

Opening the debate, Congress MP Manish Tewari said voters standing in long queues must have confidence that their votes are reaching the right destination. “I am not saying EVMs are being manipulated; I am saying people are concerned that EVMs can be manipulated,” he said. He added that apprehensions could be addressed only through “100 per cent counting of VVPATs” or a return to paper ballots, which he described as the “better solution”.

Tewari pointed out that countries like Japan and the United States had reverted to paper ballots after using electronic systems.“If everything is fine with EVMs, then why not conduct the upcoming polls in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on paper ballot?” he asked.

He argued that even if counting takes an additional three to four days, restoring faith in democracy would be worth the delay. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also backed a return to paper ballots, calling them more reliable and trusted by voters.

YSRCP MP P V Midhun Reddy noted that several nations— including the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Paraguay, Finland and Bangladesh— had moved away from EVMs in favour of paper ballots.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai said the EVM system had “many flaws”, adding, “If even the slightest doubt remains in the voter's mind, then what we are practising is not true democracy.” CPI(M)'s Amra Ram and RJD’s Abhay Kumar Sinha echoed these concerns.

EVMs crossed a key milestone in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, having now been used in five consecutive parliamentary polls since 2004.