BENGALURU: Amidst the ongoing political debates surrounding the Indian electoral system and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), a recent survey has revealed a fascinating insight: voters in Karnataka maintain high levels of confidence in both EVMs and the overall polling process. These findings were part of the survey titled "Lok Sabha Elections 2024 – Evaluation of Endline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Citizens," conducted by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority (KMEA).
Key Highlights of the Survey:
1. Rising Trust in EVMs: The survey notes a significant increase in public confidence in EVMs, even as the state government considers reintroducing ballot papers for local body elections. Trust in EVMs has risen from 77.9% in 2023 to 83.61% currently.
2. Free and Fair Elections: Approximately 91.31% of respondents agreed that elections in India are conducted in a free and fair manner.
Kalaburagi Division: This region showed the highest trust, with 94.86% of voters expressing faith in the electoral system.
Belagavi and Mysuru: These divisions followed with positive response rates of 88.86% and 87.16%, respectively.
3. Concerns Over the Influence of Money: While confidence in the system remains high, about 49.55% of respondents expressed concern that the influence of money in politics is on the rise.
4. Autonomy of Women Voters: Women constituted 56% of the total 5,100 respondents. The survey showed mixed opinions regarding voting autonomy: while 37.7% of women stated they make independent voting decisions, over 51% mentioned they consult family members or elders before casting their vote.
Methodology:
The study was conducted by the Mysuru-based NGO 'GRAAM' (Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement). The team interviewed 5,100 people across 102 Assembly constituencies spanning all four administrative divisions of the state (Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru).
Political Significance:
These findings carry significant weight as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continues his national campaign against alleged 'vote theft' (vote chori), targeting EVM credibility. Furthermore, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has proposed using ballot papers for future local body and panchayat polls. The fact that an official state agency's report supports the reliability of EVMs has sparked a fresh round of political debate.