The byelections to four Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats across the country on Monday have left some unanswered questions regarding the efficacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Trail (VVPAT) machines. Most of the complaints received were from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Almost one-fifth of VVPAT machines had to be replaced in UP’s Kairana and Maharashtra’s Bhandara-Gondiya followed by 13.16% in Palghar Lok Sabha seats.

This resulted in opposition parties comprising Congress, SP, RLD, Shiv Sena and NCP knocking on the Election Commission’s door demanding restoration of ballot paper.

EC maintains the malfunctions were largely due to extreme heat conditions, first-time use by polling staff, and placement of machines under direct light. The recently concluded Karnataka elections also reported malfunctioning of 4.18 % of the total 57,786 VVPAT machines deployed. But the buck stops with EC and it should have ensured proper training and facilities were provided at polling stations.

Reverting to ballot paper is not a viable alternative to EVMs as it would once again lead to political parties patronising criminal elements to influence elections. While EC must get its act together, the onus is also on political parties to support the institution which is pushing for more transparency and smooth conduct of elections.