Why in news
- Supreme Court asked the Centre why totaliser machines are not being deployed in elections, while the Election Commission voiced concerns over public trust.
What is a Totaliser Machine?
- A technical device connected to multiple Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) simultaneously (up to 14 EVMs) to mix and count votes together.
- It prevents political parties from knowing the booth-wise voting trends and candidate-wise vote counts in individual polling stations.
Arguments For and Against
- Before: EVMs display booth-level results, revealing locality-specific voting patterns and making voters vulnerable to post-poll intimidation.
- After (if implemented): Totaliser masks polling station-level preferences, safeguarding secret ballot principles.
- ECI concerns: Introducing new technology during widespread public scrutiny of EVMs could undermine public trust in electoral integrity.
Why it matters
- Crucial for electoral reforms under Representation of the People Act, 1951 to ensure voter privacy and prevent intimidation.
Key terms
Totaliser
Mechanism that aggregates votes from multiple EVM control units before counting to protect voter identity at the polling station level.
Secret Ballot
Constitutional requirement that a voter's choice remains private to prevent coercion and retribution.
Prelims facts
- Totaliser connects up to 14 EVMs to consolidate votes before counting.
Mains discussion
- Balancing electoral transparency and secrecy of ballot to protect vulnerable voters from political retribution.
Source: Hindu Business Line
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2018 · Q1 · GS II · 10 marks
In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India? -
2018 · Q66 · General Studies · 2 marks
When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day's weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly. In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario? -
2023 · Q36 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: 1. If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court of India, all acts done by him/her in the performance of duties of his/her office of President before the date of decision become invalid. 2. Election for the post of the President of India can be postponed on the ground that some Legislative Assemblies have been dissolved and elections are yet to take place. 3. When a Bill is presented to the President of India, the Constitution prescribes time limits within which he/she has to declare his/her assent. How many of the above statements are correct? -
2021 · Q80 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: 1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies. 2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies. 3. As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her in the event of him/her winning in all the constituencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Official key: . -
2017 · Q90 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body. 2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognized political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?