NEW DELHI: U.S. President Donald Trump has once again called voting machines and mail-in ballots “useless,” promising to ban them before the 2026 midterms. While legal experts in Washington argue that such a move would exceed presidential powers, Trump’s words highlight a deeper crisis: trust in electoral technology.
This debate finds echoes in India. For years, opposition parties have questioned the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), despite repeated assurances from the Election Commission about their security. Like the U.S., India faces a growing narrative that undermines faith in systems designed to strengthen democracy.
What is striking is that the distrust is less about the machines themselves and more about politics. Analysts warn that when leaders frame electoral tools as flawed, it fuels polarization and weakens institutions. In both countries, the real threat may not be technological malfunction but a trust deficit where citizens doubt the fairness of the process itself.
As the U.S. heads toward the 2026 midterm polls and India toward state elections regularly and 2029, the challenge for democracies is clear: safeguarding not only votes, but also voter confidence.
