After coming under fire from transparency activists, including Anna Hazare, the Election Commission of India seems to have given in to the demand for paper-backed election instead of purely electronic recording of votes.
The Election Commission had come under fire after Hari Prasad, an activist was arrested for securing an EVM from Mumbai in his efforts to prove that the machines can be compromised.
Several political parties, including the main opposition, BJP, have been requesting for paper trail EVMs which would make it difficult for the stored ‘vote values’ to be manipulated after the votes are cast and the EVMs are under safe-keeping. For example, the Kerala elections were over on April 13, but the EVMs will be opened only on May 13.
In a new statement, the Election Commission said it has discussed the possibility of introducing paper trails — which act as a back-up in case of disputes — into the EVM system.
Full Article: Election Commission gives in on paper-trails in EVMs? | Real Time News India.