Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
BLP President Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada demands paper trails to be introduced in voting process
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, February 18, 2025: Bharatiya Liberal Party President, Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada, has raised the demand for the introduction of paper trails in the elections to make the process look more fair and eliminate any doubts on the trustworthiness of the election process.
Dr. Raizada, talking about the appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, said that the newly appointed CEC should take up the task of making the electioneering process more trustworthy by combining EVM machines with paper trails.
According to Dr. Raizada, the current VVPAT system does not inspire confidence in the minds of voters. A voter cannot say with certainty that his or her vote has gone to the candidate which he/she has intended to and pressed the EVM button on. If paper trails are introduced in the voting process then it will leave no doubt on the trustworthiness of the voting process.
“In the USA, in some states, a voter is given a paper ballot first to mark his/her choice of candidate on that paper and then the voter himself/herself scans the paper ballot through EVM. So in that process not only a ballot vote is generated but at the same time an electronic vote (Via EVM) is also captured. The counting happens at the end of the day and if there is any dispute, a paper ballot is available for double check. This is a very good way for the voter to know the outcome of his/her vote”, said Dr. Raised. “We need to create a similar system here as well”.
Dr. Raizada also welcomed the suggestion by the outgoing CEC Rajiv Kumar of the introduction oBiometricscs and remote voting mechanism for NRIs and migrant workers.
He said that these measures will ensure greater participation in the voting process by people and reduce fake and duplicate voting.Dr. Raizada also commented on the hurry with which the new Chief Election Commissioner has been appointed by the Election Committee.
He also questioned the replacement of Chief Justice by a central government minister in the Election Committee - which has also been challenged in the Supreme Court also and the court will hear the matter on Saturday.
“The government rushed through the selection of a new CEC. “What was the hurry when the Supreme Court is going to hear the matter related to the replacement of the Chief Justice with the union minister on Saturday?”, Dr. Raizada questioned.