Introduction
The 2025 Bihar election produced a striking result: a powerful landslide for the winning coalition. But for many citizens — on-the-ground voters, social media watchers, and political analysts — the numbers just don’t add up.
Rallies were sparse. Campaigning seemed muted. Some winning candidates were reportedly in jail, or otherwise highly controversial. These anomalies have sparked a deeper, more urgent question: Should we stop trusting EVM (Electronic Voting Machine)-only elections and demand a return to paper ballots (ballot-papers)?
This isn’t about blaming a machine. It’s about protecting democracy and restoring public trust.
1. The Unusual Victory: No Crowd, Big Results
Many Biharis and political observers noted:
- Very low visible support for some parties
- Candidates who barely campaigned — or were absent entirely
- Unexpected wins by little-known or even legally troubled candidates
- A final tally that seemed disconnected from what people witnessed locally
- Candidates who were jailed
- Candidates absent from public campaigning
- Candidates never seen in local areas
- Extremely low-profile candidates winning huge margins
Such a contrast — an “empty wave” producing massive electoral success — is raising genuine suspicion.
2. Concerns Are Not About EVM Hardware Alone
Instead of pointing fingers solely at the hardware, many are highlighting deeper structural issues. Key concerns include:
- Centralised data aggregation and counting processes
- The role of “central units” or servers that compile votes
- Data transmission from counting centers
- Potential lack of transparency in how votes are consolidated and verified
These are not fringe conspiracy theories — they are questions being raised by major political figures and concerned citizens alike.
3. Why Demand Paper Ballots (“Ballot Papers”)?
Switching to or reintroducing paper ballots isn’t a step backwards. In fact, it’s a forward-looking reform for several reasons:
- Verifiability: With paper ballots, voters and observers can physically count and recount votes.
- Transparency: Ballot papers leave a tangible trail, which is harder to manipulate without being noticed.
- Auditability: Independent audits can be conducted more easily on paper ballots — cross-checking EVM results with paper trail.
- Public Confidence: When people know there is a paper record, they are more likely to trust the result.
- Resilience: Paper ballots are less vulnerable to cyber-risks or data-transmission errors.
Given the suspicious nature of this election, paper ballots could serve as a strong guardrail for democracy.
4. Election Commission & Trust Deficit
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the central body overseeing the fairness of the vote. But this election has seen several red flags:
- Delayed or inconsistent counting
- Reports of restricted access at counting centers
- Concerns about how vote data is being handled centrally
- Questions about transparency when it comes to EVM result compilation
- CCTV shutdowns reported in some areas
- Conflicting numbers during counting rounds
Even if everything was technically “done right,” the lack of trust remains. A paper ballot system could help rebuild that confidence.
5. What the People Are Asking For
Citizens across India — not just in Bihar — are increasingly calling for:
- A hybrid voting system: Use EVMs for speed, but mandate paper trail (VVPAT — Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) or even full paper ballots in some constituencies.
- Independent audits of counting data, including cross-verifying EVM results against paper records.
- Decentralised counting: More local counting centers, with public access, to reduce the reliance on centralized servers.
- Greater Election Commission transparency: Publish all counting data, log files, and audit processes.
- Long-term electoral reforms: Commit to gradual or phased introduction of paper ballots where feasible.
6. Why This Matters — For Democracy
An election is more than just numbers. Democracy lives in trust.
- When voters believe votes are secure and auditable, they are more likely to accept outcomes — even if their side loses.
- When election systems are opaque, legitimacy erodes.
- When people demand reform, they are defending democracy itself.
By calling for paper ballots or a credible paper trail, citizens are not being naive — they are demanding a stronger, more transparent democracy.
Conclusion & Call to Action
The Bihar 2025 election should be more than a moment of surprise. It should be a wake-up call.
We must not settle for convenience over credibility.
Demanding ballot paper — or at least a strong paper audit trail — is not a conspiracy theory. It’s democratic reform.
If you believe in a fair and transparent electoral process, here’s what you can do:
- Write to your MLA / MP / Election Commission and call for paper ballots or stronger audit systems.
- Share this article on social media to raise awareness.
- Support NGOs and civil society groups pushing for electoral reforms.
- Join or organize a petition demanding hybrid voting systems and full auditability.
Democracy is not just about who wins — it’s about how they win.
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