What Is The Difference Between Postal Ballot And EVM?
Understand the key differences between Postal Ballots and EVMs, including eligibility, voting process, and counting methods used by the Election Commission of India.
The Election Commission of India uses two primary methods to record votes during elections. These are the Postal Ballot and the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). The main difference between a Postal Ballot and an EVM is the medium of voting. A Postal Ballot uses a physical paper sheet sent through the mail or collected by officials. An EVM is a digital device that records votes at a polling station through a button-press system.
What is the difference between Postal Ballot and EVM?
The Postal Ballot is a paper-based voting system intended for voters who cannot reach a polling booth, such as soldiers or senior citizens. In contrast, the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is a digital system used by the general public at polling stations. While Postal Ballots are counted manually, EVMs record and store votes electronically for faster processing.
Check out the key differences between Postal Ballot and Electronic Voting Machines (EVM below.
What is a Postal Ballot?
A postal ballot is a kind of voting that happens when the voter is not present at the polling station for some unavoidable reason. Postal voting is done where ballot papers are distributed to electors and typically returned by post. It is done in contrast to electors voting in person by going to the polling stations or through EVMs.
Anyone with the possibility of being unavailable due to some unavoidable reason like health issues or duty issues can cast a postal ballot if they choose to.
In some areas of the world, it is called all-postal voting when postal voting is the only way allowed for casting a vote.
As the Election Commission of India says, when the voter can’t reach the polling station, the polling station reaches him/her. In India, postal voting is done through Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot Papers (ETPB) by the ECI. The ballot papers are distributed to the registered eligible voters and they are then returned to them by post.
Once the counting starts, these votes are counted first before the counting of the EVM takes place.
In India, only some categories of voters are allowed to cast their votes by postal ballot. These may be armed personnel, state police officers as well as their wives, employees transferred to other destinations working under the Government of India, or employees working abroad, also known as service voters.
People in preventive detention can also cast postal ballots in our country, but prisoners cannot cast any votes.
ALSO READ
Difference Between Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha
What is an EVM?
EVM or electronic voting machines, are the way votes are cast in India nowadays. This is a machine that is used to electronically cast the votes of the voters, reducing the human effort involved in voting. The use of EVMs and electronic voting was developed and tested by the state-owned Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat Electronics in the 1990s. The voter has to be present in the voting centre to cast his vote in the case of EVMs, unlike postal ballots.
While using EVM, instead of a ballot paper being issued to the voter like old times, the polling officer just presses a button that enables the voters to cast their votes. Here, the voters just press a button. Read about EVM in detail in the article listed below.
Difference Between Postal Ballot & EVM
Here's a comparison between postal ballots and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in tabular format:
| Feature | Postal Ballot | Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) |
| Definition | A method of voting where voters send their ballots via mail. | An electronic device used for recording and counting votes in polling stations. |
| Usage | Typically used by voters who are unable to vote in person, such as military personnel, overseas voters, and voters with disabilities,. | Used by the general public in polling stations during elections. |
| Voting Process | Voters mark their choices on a paper ballot and mail it back to the election authority. | Voters press a button corresponding to their chosen candidate on the EVM. |
| Secrecy | Ensures voter secrecy through sealed envelopes and secure handling procedures. | Ensures voter secrecy through an electronic process where individual votes are not traceable. |
| Accessibility | Accessible to those who cannot physically attend the polling station. | Requires physical presence at the polling station. |
| Speed of Voting | Slower process due to mailing and handling times. | Quick and efficient, allowing many voters to cast their ballots in a short time. |
| Counting Process | Involves manual counting of paper ballots, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error. | Electronic counting, which is fast, accurate, and minimizes human error,. |
| Security Concerns | Risk of tampering or loss of ballots during transit. | Secure against tampering due to robust design and checks; concerns exist about potential electronic hacking, though it is heavily safeguarded. |
| Cost | Costs associated with printing, mailing, and manual counting. | Higher initial cost for procurement of machines, but lower per-vote cost in the long run due to reuse. |
| Implementation | Requires logistical coordination for distribution and collection of ballots. | Requires setup and maintenance of electronic devices at polling stations. |
| Environmental Impact | use of paper and postal services has a higher environmental footprint. | Lower environmental impact as it reduces paper use. |
| Reliability | Highly reliable when proper procedures are followed, though prone to delays. | Generally reliable, with a low failure rate, machines. |
| Voter Verification | Verification through signatures and identification documents sent with the ballot. | Verification is done through voter ID and/or biometric systems at polling stations. |
Mriganka Chakraborty is a seasoned digital journalist and communications professional who is currently working as Deputy Manager at Jagran Josh, where he leads the General Knowledge Section. As a subject matter expert with 8+ years of editorial experience, he has created authoritative content that is trusted by millions of readers around the world in Science, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Sports, and Technology. His extensive expertise in these subjects enables him to present complex topics in an engaging, accurate, and reader-friendly manner to a global audience, making learning addictive and fun.
His background in a wide range of content areas and his ability to move between them make him a trusted voice to readers who want reliable, well-researched content across a variety of disciplines.
In his leisure time, Mriganka enjoys reading fiction novels and watching action and thriller movies, and cricket, which not only hone his storytelling skills but also keep his editorial vision fresh and dynamic.
