Hyderabad: Faulty Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) greeted voters in the 2nd phase of polling in the 2019 General Elections. The glitches were reported from several constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
While the Chief Election Officer in Tamil Nadu claimed that 305 EVMs were replaced, there was an inordinate delay in the polling process from where issues were reported.
In Odisha, EVM glitches took the centre stage at several booths in the Talsara Assembly constituency, while polling was delayed at six booths in Bonai Assembly constituency. Odisha saw both Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections in the second phase of polling.
Booths in Kendudihi, Bolangir and Kandhamal, G.Udayagiri and Baliguda in Odisha were also affected.
Karimganj constituency in Assam witnessed a number of EVM malfunctions. In Karimganj, the polling officer of polling station number 467 was seen accepting on camera of a person casting 14-15 votes on behalf of his entire family.
Apart from Karimganj, malfunctions were reported from across the state in Nowgong, Mangoldoi, Rangiya, Silchar and Mayong.
Similar incidents were reported from Uttar Pradesh, where a series of complaints of EVM malfunctions were reported from Hathras, Mathura, Bijnaur, Bulandsahr, and Aligarh. The state also recorded 'complaints of buttons being pressed on its own'.
In Bihar, EVM malfunctions resulted in polling delay across the region. In Kishanganj, the EVM malfunction made voters stand in the queue, longer than what was required.
With respect to the situation in West Bengal, similar scenes were reported. However, the problems were solved in a short time. Booth number 1/4 in Jalpaiguri constituency's Mcleod Ganj, which recorded 70 per cent polling, was shut down only to be resumed after an hour.
Admitting that there were complaints against EVMs in some booths in Karnataka, Joint Chief Electoral Officer A.V. Surya Sen said they were replaced soon.
Maharashtra too witnessed a number of flaws in the functioning of EVMs. While the most number of cases were reported from Solapur, Akola also recorded a number of cases. Beed District Magistrate said that five places namely Georai, Mazalgaon, Kej, Ashti and Parali recorded EVM malfunctions since morning in the constituency.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) recorded a voter turnout of 69.43 per cent during the first phase of elections in 91 constituencies in 18 states and two union territories. The first phase was held on April 11.
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