By which year did the entire country shift to using EVMs for elections?

2004

These days, the method of recording voters' preferences has evolved from its initial form. In the early days, during the first general election, a different approach was adopted. Each polling booth had separate boxes for candidates, with the candidate's election symbol displayed. Voters were provided with blank ballot papers, which they had to drop into the box of their chosen candidate. The process involved the use of around 20 lakh steel boxes.

However, after the initial phase, a new method was introduced. The ballot paper now featured the names and symbols of all candidates, and voters were required to put a stamp on the name of their chosen candidate. This method remained in practice for approximately forty years. Towards the late 1990s, the Election Commission introduced Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). By 2004, the entire country had transitioned to using EVMs for elections.