Though casting of votes in India is no longer done through a ballot sheet but through an EVM, this process is still a secret. Why is this so important to the process of casting votes?
Answers
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is an electronic device for recording votes. An Electronic Voting Machine consists of two Units – a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit – joined by a five-meter cable. The Control Unit is placed with the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer and the Balloting Unit is placed inside the voting compartment. Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit will release a ballot by pressing the Ballot Button on the Control Unit. This will enable the voter to cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the Balloting Unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice.
Answer:
Earlier, people used to cast their votes by putting a stamp on the ballot paper. Today, the process has been simplified with the introduction of the electronic voting machine (EVM). The EVM shows the names of the candidates and the symbols of the party to which they belong. Independent candidates also have their own symbols allotted by the election commission. The voters are only required to press the button against the name of the candidate of their choice.
After the voting process is over, the ballot boxes or the EVMs are sealed and kept in safe custody. On a particular day, fixed by the Election Commission, they are opened. The votes for each candidate are then counted. The candidate getting the maximum vote in each constituency is declared elected. The party whose maximum candidates are elected becomes the ruling party.