Elections in India are always a festive affair. It is the biggest proof of our democratic values and our Constitution's respect. With the Lok Sabha Election 2024 coming to an end, all eyes are on the results for the upcoming government of India.
People over 18 years of age are allowed to cast their votes and make their citizenship count. We are allowed to choose our representatives through these votes and uplift and develop our society. Let us know below the different modes of voting in India—postal ballots and electronic voting machines—and the differences between them.
Check out the difference between Postal Ballot and Electronic Voting Machines 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.
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. |
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