- Why Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) Are Safe and Reliable
In modern democracies, voting is an essential process that helps citizens choose their leaders. In India, elections are conducted using **Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)**. Some people wonder if EVMs are safe and reliable. This article explains why EVMs are a secure and trustworthy way to vote, in simple terms.
An Electronic Voting Machine EVM is a device used to cast and count votes electronically. It replaces the old method of voting by paper ballots. EVMs have been used in Indian elections for over 20 years.
An EVM has two main parts:
1. Control Unit – used by the polling officer to manage the voting process.
2. Ballot Unit– used by voters to cast their votes by pressing a button next to the candidate’s name and symbol.
Why EVMs Are Safe
1. No Internet Connection
EVMs are *stand-alone machines*. They are not connected to the internet or any external network, making them immune to hacking. This means no one can tamper with them remotely.
2. Simple Technology
EVMs use basic and secure technology, making them easy to operate but hard to tamper with. They don’t rely on complex software or updates that can be manipulated.
3. Sealed and Secure
After voting is completed, EVMs are sealed in a secure manner. These machines are transported and stored under strict supervision, making it difficult for anyone to tamper with them.
4. VVPAT System
To make EVMs even safer, a system called Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is used. When you vote, VVPAT shows a slip that confirms your vote has gone to the correct candidate. This slip is visible for a few seconds before it is stored securely.
5. Multiple Checks
Before voting starts, each EVM is checked by polling officials, party agents, and observers. Test votes are cast to confirm that the machine works correctly. This ensures transparency.
6. Robust Design
EVMs are built to be sturdy and reliable. They work in all kinds of weather conditions, from heat to rain, making them suitable for use across India.
No Evidence of Tampering
Over the years, many questions have been raised about the safety of EVMs. However, there is no evidence to show that EVMs have been tampered with during actual elections. In fact, the **Election Commission of India (ECI)** regularly demonstrates the security features of EVMs to the public and experts.
Independent experts and courts, including the Supreme Court, have examined EVMs and found them to be secure. Many countries around the world have also adopted EVMs based on the success of India’s system.
Using EVMs
1. Faster Counting
Unlike paper ballots, which take hours or days to count, EVMs provide results quickly, usually within a few hours.
2. Environment Friendly
EVMs eliminate the need for paper ballots, saving thousands of trees and reducing waste.
3. Cost-Effective
Though EVMs cost money to produce, they save money in the long run by reducing the need for paper, printing, and storage.
4.Accurate Results
EVMs reduce human error in counting votes. The results are accurate and leave no room.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are a safe, reliable, and efficient way of conducting elections. They are designed to prevent tampering, ensure accuracy, and speed up the voting process. With additional safety features like VVPAT and strong security measures, EVMs ensure that every vote is counted correctly. Trust in the system is crucial for a strong democracy, and EVMs help uphold that trust.
In the end, voting with EVMs helps make elections smooth, secure, and fair for everyone.
About the Creator
Karen Solie’s Wellwater Wins the TS Eliot Poetry Prize: A Quiet Triumph of Modern Verse
In a literary world often dominated by loud headlines and fast-moving trends, poetry still finds ways to stop time. That pause arrived powerfully with the announcement that Karen Solie’s poetry collection Wellwater has won the TS Eliot Poetry Prize, one of the most prestigious honors in contemporary poetry. The award is not only a personal milestone for Solie but also a reminder of poetry’s enduring ability to explore the human condition with depth, restraint, and emotional clarity. A Prize That Shapes the Poetry World The TS Eliot Poetry Prize, awarded annually in the United Kingdom, is considered one of the highest accolades a poet can receive. It recognizes the best new poetry collection published in the UK or Ireland, often setting the tone for literary discussions in the year ahead. Past winners have included some of the most influential poetic voices of modern times, making Solie’s victory a significant cultural moment. What sets this prize apart is its emphasis on craft, originality, and emotional intelligence—qualities that Wellwater embodies fully. Who Is Karen Solie? Karen Solie is a Canadian poet known for her sharp intellect, grounded observations, and emotionally resonant language. Over the years, she has earned respect for writing poetry that feels both deeply personal and socially aware. Her work often navigates themes such as place, memory, climate anxiety, labor, aging, and quiet resilience, avoiding grand statements in favor of carefully observed truths. Solie’s poetry does not shout; it listens. That listening quality is precisely what makes Wellwater stand out. Inside Wellwater: Poetry of Depth and Reflection Wellwater is a collection that moves deliberately, inviting readers to slow down and pay attention. The title itself suggests hidden depths—water drawn from below the surface, shaped by time and pressure. This metaphor runs throughout the collection, as Solie explores lives shaped by unseen forces: economic uncertainty, environmental change, personal history, and emotional endurance. The poems are rooted in everyday experiences, yet they carry philosophical weight. Solie writes about landscapes both natural and human-made, finding meaning in small moments: a shift in weather, a conversation overheard, a memory resurfacing unexpectedly. Her language is precise but never cold, intellectual without being inaccessible. Why Wellwater Resonated With Judges The TS Eliot Prize judges praised Wellwater for its quiet authority and emotional honesty. In a time when many works aim for immediacy or spectacle, Solie’s collection was recognized for its patience and depth. The poems do not rush toward conclusions; instead, they allow complexity to remain unresolved, mirroring real life. This approach reflects a broader shift in contemporary poetry, where subtlety and reflection are gaining renewed appreciation. Solie’s work demonstrates that poetry can be powerful without being performative, political without being loud, and personal without being confessional. Poetry in a Restless World The success of Wellwater also speaks to the role of poetry in today’s fast-paced, digitally saturated culture. As attention spans shrink, poetry offers a counterbalance—a space where readers can slow down, sit with uncertainty, and engage with language thoughtfully. Solie’s poems address modern anxieties without sensationalism. Climate change, economic instability, and emotional fatigue are present, but they are woven into lived experience rather than treated as abstract concepts. This grounding makes Wellwater especially relevant to contemporary readers seeking meaning rather than noise. What This Win Means for Contemporary Poetry Karen Solie’s TS Eliot Prize win reinforces the idea that poetry still matters, even—perhaps especially—in uncertain times. It highlights the value of work that prioritizes depth over trendiness and reflection over reaction. For emerging poets, Solie’s success is encouraging. It suggests that careful craftsmanship, intellectual honesty, and emotional restraint can still find recognition in a competitive literary landscape. For readers, Wellwater offers an invitation: to read slowly, to think deeply, and to reconnect with the quieter aspects of being human. A Lasting Literary Moment Karen Solie’s Wellwater winning the TS Eliot Poetry Prize is more than an award announcement—it is a celebration of poetry’s ability to endure, adapt, and illuminate. In drawing from the deep wells of observation and experience, Solie has created a collection that will likely be read and discussed for years to come. In an age hungry for instant answers, Wellwater reminds us that some truths are best discovered slowly.
By Fiaz Ahmed Brohi2 days ago in Education
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