How is a semiconductor chip a barrier in one country's election?
The election commission voiced concern about the worldwide shortage of semiconductors and processors in its response to the law panel earlier this year regarding the viability of holding simultaneous polls, according to The indian Express. It is necessary for producing Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail, or VVPAT, devices and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).The election commission encountered numerous difficulties in producing an extra 4 lakh voting machines specifically for the lok sabha elections in 2024 as a result of this deficit. In such a scenario, it will be extremely difficult to overcome the lack of extra voting equipment if lok sabha and assembly elections are held simultaneously across the nation. It might require a specific length of time. In addition, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the lack of semiconductors following the Covid-19 outbreak have further thrown off the schedule for EVM purchase."Simultaneous election holding has never been opposed by the election Commission. so long as rational plans for EVM purchase are taken into consideration. The election commission, however, requests between six and a year to set up the EVMs. The european Commission has already voiced its concerns on production difficulties resulting from a lack of semiconductors. The ec had stated earlier in the year that it would not be able to use eighty percent of the funds set aside for the procurement of EVMs. This caused a delay in the production of EVMs as well.