Delhi University to use EVMs in student union elections

New Delhi: Delhi University is set to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) in student union elections across its colleges starting this academic year, aiming to bring greater uniformity to the voting process and gradually phase out paper ballots.

Around 1,000 EVMs have been procured with assistance from the Election Commission of India as part of the initiative. The move is expected to particularly benefit colleges that currently organise their student elections independently using paper ballots.

Although EVMs have been used in Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections since 2006, the system has not been adopted by the university’s affiliated colleges. Of the university’s 91 affiliated colleges, 47 are affiliated with DUSU, while the remaining institutions conduct their own elections. Their polls are also held at different times.

The university has expanded its EVM inventory after several older machines were found to be defective and required replacement. Colleges interested in adopting electronic voting for their union elections can now seek support from the university.

College authorities expect the shift to substantially ease the administrative and logistical burden associated with paper-based voting. Conventional elections require large numbers of teaching and non-teaching staff to manage polling, distribute and collect ballot papers, maintain polling stations and conduct counting, particularly in colleges with thousands of students.

With appropriate security measures, EVMs could reduce paperwork, save time and streamline election management. The initiative is therefore being viewed as a significant step towards making student union elections across Delhi University colleges more efficient and standardised.