EVMs vs Electoral Bonds: Which is the Better Way to Rig an Election?

Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, but they are also the source of many problems and controversies. In India, the two most common ways of rigging an election are EVMs and electoral bonds. EVMs, or Electronic Voting Machines, are the devices that are used to record and count the votes of the voters. Electoral bonds are the instruments that are used to donate funds to the political parties anonymously. Both EVMs and electoral bonds are supposed to bring transparency and accountability to the electoral process, but in reality, they do the opposite. They enable the manipulation and corruption of the election results and the political funding system.

But which is the better way to rig an election? Which is more effective and efficient in toppling one party and boosting another party? Which is more convenient and profitable for the donors and the political parties? Which is more risky and dangerous for the democracy and the people? Let's compare and contrast the two methods and find out.

EVMs

EVMs are the devices that are used to record and count the votes of the voters. They are supposed to be tamper-proof, secure, and transparent, but in reality, they are anything but that. In fact, EVMs are the perfect tools for manipulating the election results and ensuring your victory.

Advantages

EVMs are easy to hack and program to give votes to your party. All you need is a loyal and corrupt engineer who can do the job for you. You can either bribe him or threaten him or both. You don't need any technical or legal expertise to do this.

EVMs are easy to deliver and deploy to the polling booths where you expect a tough competition from your opponents. You can use your influence, money, or muscle power to make this happen. You can also create some chaos or violence in the area to divert the attention of the security forces and the election officials.

EVMs are easy to monitor and control during the election. You can keep an eye on the voting process and the vote count through your agents and workers. You can also intimidate or bribe the voters to vote for you or to stay away from voting. You can also spread some fake news or rumors to influence the voters' minds.

Disadvantages

EVMs are expensive and limited in number. You have to spend a lot of money to buy or rent the EVMs from the manufacturers or the suppliers. You also have to compete with other parties and candidates who might want to use the same EVMs for their own purposes. You also have to deal with the shortage and scarcity of the EVMs, especially during the peak election season.

EVMs are risky and unreliable. You have to trust the engineer who hacks and programs the EVMs for you. He might betray you or expose your plan or defect to the other side. You also have to face the possibility of the EVMs malfunctioning or failing during the election. You also have to deal with the scrutiny and challenge from the opposition, the media, the civil society, and the courts, who might question the validity and accuracy of the EVMs.

Electoral Bonds

Electoral bonds are the instruments that are used to donate funds to the political parties anonymously. They are supposed to bring transparency and accountability to the political funding system, but in reality, they are a source of opacity and corruption. In fact, electoral bonds are the perfect tools for laundering the black money and influencing the policies and decisions of the government.

Advantages

Electoral bonds are easy to buy and sell. You can use any mode of payment, such as cash, cheque, DD, or online transfer, to purchase the bonds from the authorised branches of the State Bank of India (SBI). You can also buy the bonds at any time of the year, as they are available for sale in every quarter of the financial year, and for an additional 30 days in the year of the general elections. You can also buy the bonds in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, or Rs 1 crore. You can also buy as many bonds as you want, as there is no limit on the amount or number of bonds that you can purchase.

Electoral bonds are easy to donate and receive. You can either hand over the bonds personally or send them by post or courier to the party office. You don't have to reveal your name, address, PAN, Aadhaar, or any other identity proof to the party. You can also request the party to keep your donation confidential and not to disclose it to anyone. The party will receive your donation and deposit it in their verified bank account within 15 days of receiving the bonds. The party will also issue you a receipt or a thank you note for your generous contribution.

Electoral bonds are easy to evade and avoid. You will get tax exemption for the amount of the bonds that you have purchased. You will also get preferential treatment and access to the party and the government leaders and officials. You will also get favourable policies and decisions that will benefit your business or personal interests. You will also get protection and immunity from any legal or regulatory action that might arise from your donation.

Disadvantages

Electoral bonds are unfair and unequal. You have to compete with other donors who might want to donate to the same or different political parties. You also have to deal with the imbalance and disparity in the political funding system, as the ruling party gets the majority of the donations, while the opposition parties get very little or nothing. You also have to deal with the lack of representation and participation of the common people and the civil society in the political funding system, as they are excluded and marginalized by the electoral bonds.

Electoral bonds are risky and volatile. You have to trust the party that you donate to. They might misuse or misappropriate your donation for their own purposes. They might also betray you or ignore you after getting your donation. You also have to face the possibility of the electoral bonds losing their value or becoming invalid due to the fluctuations and changes in the market or the government. You also have to deal with the uncertainty and unpredictability of the political scenario and the election outcome, which might affect your donation and its impact.

Conclusion

EVMs and electoral bonds are two different ways of rigging an election, but they have some similarities and differences. They both have some advantages and disadvantages, depending on your perspective and preference. They both have some implications and consequences, for yourself and for the democracy and the people. They both require some careful planning and execution, and some luck and fate.

So, which is the better way to rig an election? Which is more suitable and preferable for you? Which is more fun and exciting for you? The choice is yours. But remember, whatever you choose, you are playing with fire. You are playing with the fate of the nation and the future of the democracy. You are playing with the trust and the faith of the people and the law. You are playing with your own conscience and morality.

Choose wisely. And be prepared for the consequences.