Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Know the history of electronic voting machine EVM in the country
It is election time, in such a situation it would be a mistake if there is no mention of Electronic Voting Machine i.e. EVM. Today, the real strength of democracy in India is the EVM machine, which records the vote of every citizen. Along with this, the fate of thousands of candidates contesting on 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country has also been captured in this EVM. But do you know which companies manufacture these machines in the country? How have been the returns of that company? Not only this, what has been the history of EVMs in the country?
Where was EVM first used?
If we talk about the history of EVM in the country, it goes back to 1982. The concept of EVMs has been under consideration for a long time to prevent rigging during elections and deal with issues like booth capturing. Then came 1982, when EVMs were tested in Paravur assembly seat of Kerala.
The 2001 assembly elections changed the electoral system.
However, it had many problems and by the time EVMs were developed, there came a time in 2001 when EVMs were used in the assembly elections of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal. Then these were installed at every booth. Earlier, during the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, it was trialled at some booths. The Lok Sabha elections held in 2004 were the first elections to be conducted entirely by EVMs.
VVPAT was also added to EVM in 2013
However, doubts continued to be raised about EVMs and in the year 2013, VVPAT was also added to it. In the 2014 elections, a paper printer (VVPAT) was attached to some EVM machines, in which the votes cast are also collected in paper form. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, VVPAT machines were installed along with EVMs in every seat of the country. We have talked about EVMs, now let us know about the company that makes them…
2 government companies make EVMs
Only two government companies in the country, Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat Electronics, have the responsibility of manufacturing EVMs. Among these, Bharat Electronics is also listed in the stock exchange. At present its share is around Rs 236.50, but if you look at its returns since the last elections, you will be surprised how good returns it has given?
The share price of this company in 2019 is only Rs 29.38.
Five years ago i.e. in 2019, the share price of this company was only Rs 29.38. In the beginning of 2023, its share price suddenly started increasing and in just 5 years its return became 702 percent. The special thing about BEL is that its share price is continuously increasing.
Apart from India, EVMs are being supplied in many countries.
Apart from India, both these companies supply EVMs to many other countries also. However, in most Western countries the voting process is still accomplished by ballot.
