Kolewadi’s decision to pick ballot paper over EVMs makes it the second village after Solapur’s Markadwadi village, under Malshiras constituency, to do so. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
The residents of Kolewadi Gram Panchayat in Karad tehsil of Maharashtra’s Satara district have decided to vote in future elections using only stamped ballot papers and not Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The decision was taken at a Gram Sabha meeting on November 27, 2024, which was called through the village development officer at Kolewadi. Residents of the village, including Sarpanch Ratnamala Shankarrao Patil and former Gram Panchayat members, participated in the meeting.
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“We have passed a resolution demanding to conduct all future elections using stamped ballot papers and not EVMs. We, villagers, at least most of us, are not so educated and learned to understand the technicalities of how these machines like EVMs function. With discussion and talks going on around the authenticity and reliability of these EVM machines, we have come to a decision that we do not want to vote though EVMS. We have the right to know where our vote goes and we feel ballot papers are the most transparent method of voting,” the Sarpanch said.
A villager, refusing to be named, said that they have serious concerns and doubts surrounding the EVM voting process. “Indians used to vote using ballot papers in the past and not once were there controversies surrounding that method. We hear that ballot papers are still in practice in many countries; why is it different in India?” the resident said.
Markadwadi first village to demand ballot papers
Kolewadi village comes under Karad (South) Assembly constituency, which was earlier represented by senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who lost the recently held State assembly election to BJP’s Atul Bhosale by 39,355 votes.
Kolewadi’s decision to pick ballot paper over EVMs makes it the second village after Solapur’s Markadwadi village, under Malshiras constituency, to do so. Markadwadi villagers recently demanded re-polling using ballot papers citing concerns over the credibility of EVMs. Earlier this week, police booked over 200 people from the village.
“We passed the resolution on December 2, 2024, in the Gram Sabha meeting after considering the sentiments of every person who has expressed concerns over the EVMs. The Election Commission of India should switch to ballot paper method considering the doubts people have towards EVMs,” Ms. Patil said. She added that people of Kolewadi will cast their votes only if they are allowed to use ballot papers, or else they will boycott future elections.
Officials at the Satara district collectorate said they are yet to receive the resolution copy from the village, and that they will comment on the matter only after receiving it.
Published – December 10, 2024 11:07 pm IST