Maharashtra Poll Fraud Row: New EVM Checks and Mock Polls

The Maharashtra state assembly elections held in late 2024 have sparked a big conversation about how votes are counted and whether electronic voting machines, called EVMs, can be trusted. Some political parties and leaders have openly said they do not believe the results, with accusations they call “poll fraud” and demands for more checks on EVMs. This has led to strong reactions from election officials and voters alike, and now, new rules for checking these machines are in the spotlight.

Why Are People Talking About Fraud?

After the election results were announced, the opposition alliance called the INDIA bloc, led by parties like the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), started questioning the numbers. They pointed to cases where, according to them, more people voted than the number who were actually registered. One major claim was that, after 5:30pm on voting day, the number of votes suddenly shot up by 6.5million in just two hours—much higher than what seemed possible. They wanted proof, like video footage, but said the Election Commission (EC) would not provide it.

In some villages, people were confused when the candidate they usually supported did not seem to get the usual number of votes. This even led to requests for “mock” re-elections in some places to compare EVM results with paper ballots. For example, Markadwadi village in Solapur wanted a mock poll because their favored candidate got fewer votes there than ever before, even though he won the seat overall.

What Did the Courts and Election Officials Say?

The Bombay High Court looked into some of these concerns and said there was “nothing on record” to prove fraud. They dismissed a plea saying the complaints were not supported by enough facts. Officials pointed out that, for the 2024 polls, over 64million voters participated, and they stood by the accuracy of the results.

At the same time, the EC has made it clear that spreading “unproven allegations” can hurt trust in India’s election system and discourage the many honest workers who help run the polls.

What Is the Role of EVMs and Why Are Mock Polls Important?

EVMs are electronic machines designed to make voting easier and counting faster. But critics worry they could be tampered with or have technical problems. To build trust, “mock polls” are held before voting starts, where officials run test votes in front of polling agents to show that the machine works as expected.

Now, after the latest Maharashtra election, the EC has introduced new rules. For the first time, mock polls and checks on EVM memory can also happen after results are announced. Losing candidates now have the right to request mock polls on up to 20 ballot units in the places where they have the strongest doubts. There’s a step-by-step system: the machines are opened, their memory is checked, and new mock votes are run with video recording. If anything seems wrong, the process and results can be sent to the EC for further decision. The fee for this service has even been lowered to make it more accessible for candidates.

What Are People Suggesting Next?

Many experts and common people feel that these extra checks, including mock polls after results, can help rebuild trust. Those who believe fraud happened are demanding even more—like digital voter rolls that are machine-readable (not just paper), more open video footage, and audits by people besides government workers.

Some citizens ask, “If the machines are working, why not open more to public checks?” Others say the EVM system is already strong—pointing to years of error-free use and previous successful verifications. Election officials say that too many doubts, especially if not based on facts, can make people distrust a system that actually works for most. They remind everyone that tampering has never been proven with India’s EVMs.

Different Opinions—But a Shared Goal

What do those worried about fraud want?

More transparency in how votes are counted.
More places to check EVMs, even after the election ends.
Access to voting records and video footage when they have doubts.

What do election officials and others say?

New procedures allow even losing candidates to request EVM checks and mock polls.
Indian EVMs are, so far, proven safe and accurate.
Too many unsupported complaints can damage confidence without good reason.

What about voters?

Some feel frustrated and worried if their vote wasn’t counted as they expected.
Others trust that the system is working but agree that checks and transparency are always good.

Looking Ahead

Maharashtra’s poll “fraud” row has brought a clear message: people care deeply that every vote counts and is counted fairly. With new EVM check procedures and the chance for mock polls even after the election, officials hope confidence in India’s election system will grow, especially among those with doubts.

In a democracy, questioning is natural—and so is making sure people believe in the answers. As more EVM checks are done over the coming weeks in Maharashtra, many will watch closely. Only time will tell if these steps can bring everyone closer to the same page. For now, the debate continues, but with new tools to keep India’s elections transparent, safe, and trusted.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies