Latest news with #ElectronicVotingMachines
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Elections via ballot papers will bring back BSP's ‘good days': Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati on Thursday (June 5, 2025) said her party's "good days" would return if elections are held through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Addressing a press conference here, she reiterated her demand for conducting all elections through ballot papers, alleging that EVMs were being tampered to prevent BSP candidates from winning. "Parties with casteist ideologies, both in power and in opposition, have been managing certain opportunistic and self-serving individuals from Dalit and other marginalised communities behind the scenes. These elements are being used to form various organisations and parties that are misleading our support base and dividing votes in BSP's strongholds, especially in Uttar Pradesh," she said. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister further alleged that rival political parties were adopting various tactics to ensure that BSP's presence in national politics remains minimal. "These parties are not only creating and sustaining opportunistic outfits but are also transferring their votes to them in elections to help a few of their candidates win, thereby weakening the BSP's prospects," she claimed. "Furthermore, EVM manipulation is being used to defeat BSP candidates, in an attempt to break the trust of Dalit and marginalised voters in the BSP," Mayawati said. She said that concerns regarding EVMs are now being raised by several opposition parties, adding, "Most opposition parties, including the BSP, now want that all elections, whether big or small, should be conducted through ballot papers like in the past." "Though this might not be possible under the current government, we hope it can happen after a change in power," she said. Ms. Mayawati expressed confidence that if the electoral process shifts back to ballot papers, the BSP would regain its lost political ground and its good days will be back. She also cautioned her party workers against "self-serving and opportunistic" organisations and parties that, she claimed, have no real connection with B.R. Ambedkar, BSP founder Kanshi Ram, or the broader Bahujan movement. "Even if leaders from these groups become MPs, MLAs, or ministers for their personal gains, it will not bring any real benefit to Dalits and marginalised sections," she said. The BSP supremo also criticised the lack of equitable participation of Bahujans in the country's GDP growth and described the ongoing poverty and unemployment as a matter of concern. She alleged that the country's borders have not been fully secure for years, resulting in frequent terror incidents. On the Pahalgam terror attack, she said it was "deeply saddening and worrying" and criticised the politicisation of such incidents. "It is unfortunate that such sensitive matters are being used for political gain. This should not happen," she said.
News18
2 days ago
- General
- News18
Over 7 Lakh New Voters May Be Unable to Vote In Maharashtra's Local Body Polls. Here's Why
Last Updated: As per the law, local body elections must use the final electoral roll prepared for the most recent assembly polls, leaving out those who registered after 2024 As Maharashtra gears up for its long-pending local body elections, a key concern has emerged—lakhs of newly registered voters may not get the chance to vote. Following a Supreme Court directive clearing the path for civic elections, the State Election Commission has begun its preparations but officials say the voter list used in the last assembly elections will be reused for these polls, as per rules. This could leave out over seven lakh new voters who registered after the 2024 assembly elections. Several of these new voters—many of them first-time youth voters—had hoped to cast their votes in the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls, dates for which haven't been fixed yet. But as per the law, local body elections must use the final electoral roll prepared for the most recent assembly polls, and not a freshly updated list. The State Election Commission has already written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra, asking for a copy of this final voter list. Ministry sources confirm that the request has also been forwarded to the Election Commission of India, and the list is likely to be handed over soon. Apart from the voter list, the commission has also asked for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) required to conduct the polls. Sources say that during the assembly elections, nearly one lakh EVMs were used. Given the large number of local bodies across Maharashtra, including municipal corporations, councils, and zilla parishads, officials may need additional EVMs, possibly sourced from other states. At present, Maharashtra has around 9.8 crore registered voters, up from 9.73 crore during the last assembly elections. With nearly seven lakh new additions, their exclusion is being seen as a missed opportunity, especially at a time when young voter participation is being encouraged. While preparations are in full swing, the final election schedule is yet to be announced. Until then, the number of excluded new voters may continue to grow. The development has raised concerns among citizens and civil society groups, who have called for a more inclusive approach to ensure every eligible voter gets a say in local governance—the closest form of democracy in action. First Published: June 05, 2025, 11:36 IST
India Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Bypolls of 5 assembly seats in Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab and Bengal on June 19
The Election Commission has announced assembly by-polls for five constituencies across four constituencies include Kadi and Visavadar in Gujarat; Nilambur in Kerala; Ludhiana West in Punjab; and Kaliganj in West Election Commission also shared the reason behind the by-elections on these seats. advertisement With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in all five voting for all five assembly seats is scheduled for June 19. The counting of votes will be held on June these by-polls, the Commission has decided to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in all polling numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available to ensure a smooth electoral Watch
India.com
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi reviews Bihar poll preparations in Patna
As Bihar gears up for the Assembly elections later this year, Election Commissioner Dr Vivek Joshi is on a four-day official visit to the state, which began on May 15, to review poll preparations. A high-level review meeting was held in Patna under Dr Joshi's chairmanship on Friday. The meeting was attended by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, State Police Nodal Officer Kundan Krishnan, Inspector General of Police (Patna), the District Magistrate and SSP of Patna, Additional Secretary of the Election Department, and other senior officials. The focus of the meeting was to review election preparedness, ensuring peaceful and fair polling, and strengthening coordination among different arms of the election machinery. Dr Joshi, who was received in Patna by CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, is overseeing key aspects of the election process, including security arrangements, voter facilitation at polling stations, First Level Checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and training programmes for polling officials. Field visits at the district level are also part of his itinerary. As part of his tour, Dr Joshi will travel to Motihari (East Champaran) and Bettiah (West Champaran) to inspect EVM FLC processes and interact with District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He will also assess the readiness of polling stations and voter service centres. The Election Commission, in collaboration with the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management -- its premier training wing -- is conducting division-wise training programmes across Bihar. These sessions aim to enhance the efficiency of polling staff and ensure that booth-level agents of political parties are well-informed about electoral procedures. Currently, the FLC of EVMs is underway in 13 districts of Bihar. The Election Commission aims to complete the exercise with full transparency and technical precision. Dr Joshi's visit underlines the Election Commission of India's commitment to ensuring that the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections are free, fair, inclusive, technologically robust, and devoid of any malpractice or violence.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC defers Shahdara Bar elections to May 24 over EVM and cost concerns
NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC on Thursday deferred the Shahdara Bar Association elections to May 24 citing logistical and financial concerns. The elections were originally scheduled to take place on May 9. The decision came from a full bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh, Navin Chawla and C Hari Shankar. The Court was acting on a report submitted by Justice Talwant Singh (Retd.), who chairs the Shahdara Bar Association Election Singh, in his report to the Registrar General, raised serious concerns over the availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the estimated expenditure for conducting the elections. He informed the Court that the EVMs initially planned for use were being allocated to the Saket Bar Association on May 9. However, Delhi University, the provider of these machines, had expressed willingness to supply them on May 24 instead. Justice Singh emphasised that holding elections using paper ballots would be both complicated and financially burdensome.
