A PUBLIC OPINION ON EFFECTIVENESS IN BALLOT PAPER VOTING COMPARED TO EVM – SPl. REFERENCE TO CHENNAI

AUTHORS – R. SHERIN NACHIYA & HANUSHKA SRINIVASAN .S, STUDENTS AT SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW, SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES (SIMATS) CHENNAI-77

BEST CITATION – R. SHERIN NACHIYA & HANUSHKA SRINIVASAN .S, A PUBLIC OPINION ON EFFECTIVENESS IN BALLOT PAPER VOTING COMPARED TO EVM – SPl. REFERENCE TO CHENNAI, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 4 (2) OF 2024, PG. 698-714, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT:

The very first election in India was conducted in the year of 1951-52. Only about 16% of people were literate, and the transportation system was inadequate at that time. Voting stations were placed three miles from people’s homes by ECI. Only nine voters could fit in the booth. There was a 44.5% turnout on election day which led to the rise of democracy in India. But, in the recent times Elections in India are conducted through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and postal ballots nowadays. The objective of this research study is to understand the system of Paper ballot voting and EVM,to analyse the public’s preference on voting, to enumerate the reasons on the usage of paper ballot voting and Electronic voting machine and to analyse the effectiveness on reducing the fraudulent activities. The methodology used was empirical method and sample size is 207. The question which was asked to the general public are their opinion on preferences of voting, chances of malpractice while using EVM, efficiency of EVM, merits and demerits of EVM and rating scale. The findings of the research study is, many countries who are much updated still opts for paper ballot voting as it encompasses transparency. The conclusion of the research study is, voting is ever citizen’s right to choose their leader and it should not be tampered at any situation that infringes the citizen’s fundamental right. Every citizen should be given a chance to vote by making the affairs easy for them.

KEYWORDS:  Paper ballot voting, EVM, 18 years of age, India and Fundamental Right.