Which of the following statements regarding India's voting system in Loksabha elections are correct?

1. In the first two general elections of 1952 and 1957, a separate box was placed for each candidate with their election symbol.

2. From the third general election in 1962, ballot papers with names and symbols of candidates were introduced.

3. Since the 2004 general elections to the Lok Sabha, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been used in all constituencies.

4. Since 2019, EVMs have been backed by 100% Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in all constituencies.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Question

Question

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 4.

In News

The Election Commission (EC) has invited political parties to discuss reforms in the electoral process, including concerns over voter ID duplication, electoral roll manipulation, and EVM-VVPAT verification. The evolution of India's voting system remains a crucial part of these discussions.

Key Points

Early Voting System:
- In 1952 and 1957, voters had to drop blank ballot papers into boxes assigned to each candidate’s symbol. Hence, Point 1 is correct.
- In 1962, ballot papers featuring candidate names and symbols were introduced, improving voter clarity. Hence, Point 2 is correct.
Introduction of EVMs:
- EVMs were introduced in phases but became mandatory across all Lok Sabha constituencies in 2004. Hence, Point 3 is correct.
- To improve transparency, 100% VVPAT verification was introduced in 2019, allowing voters to verify their votes on paper slips. Hence, Point 4 is correct.

Additional Information

Current Electoral Challenges:
- Duplicate voter IDs have been detected across multiple states.
- Demands for full VVPAT verification alongside EVMs have been rejected by the Supreme Court.
- Campaign violations, excessive election spending, and criminalization of politics remain key concerns.
Proposed Electoral Reforms:
- Stricter verification of EVM results in case of discrepancies.
- Possible Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage to prevent duplication.
- Regulations on campaign spending and candidate disclosures to ensure fair elections.