Karnataka Elections: Village residents create chaos by damaging voting machines

In the district of Vijayapura, Karnataka, the tranquil village of Masabinal descended into chaos on Wednesday, May 10, as residents vandalized electronic voting machines due to a misunderstanding. The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, which were in transit from Bisanala village back to Vijayapura, were intended to serve as backup in case of a primary machine failure during the voting process. The unfortunate incident was triggered when the villagers, seeking clarification about the machines' presence, confronted the electoral staff. Unsatisfied with the explanations offered, the villagers assumed that the election process had been prematurely terminated, leading to an outburst of violent reactions. Videos from the scene depict residents venting their frustrations on the EVMs, smashing them against the ground in a misguided act of protest. The tumultuous event not only resulted in the destruction of the voting machines but also led to significant damage to the election officer's vehicle, seen capsized in the available footage. Moreover, numerous election staff members bore the brunt of the villagers' wrath, sustaining injuries during the pandemonium. Nevertheless, amidst the upheaval, the electoral process remained unimpeded and carried on as scheduled.