-By Sagar Kumar Sinha
The debate over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) resurfaced questioning the integrity and advocating a return to paper ballots following the defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly election suggesting return to paper ballots for the electoral process.
Can the EVMs be manipulated or hacked ?
The Election Commission of India while responding to the question raised by the Congress Candidate Sarv Mitter who lost Haryana assembly election last year stating that the Electronic Voting Machine is a microcontroller-based device used in elections to make them more efficient. It eliminates the chance of incorrect votes, maintains total security of voting data, and enables speedy and precise counting. The voting information saved in EVMs may be preserved for years and removed if required.
The Election commission of India(ECI) when questioned in court informed apex court :
* That EVMs cannot be tampered for verification as it is embeded with Micro Controller.
* It consist of two elements: the control unit and the voting unit. The control unit remains with the presiding officer or polling officer, and the voting unit is kept in the
* EVMs are VMs are military-grade shielded against external interference and can withstand electromagnetic fields up to 6 Tesla, exceeding the strength of MRI machines.
* Historically, the Machines have been manufactured in different years starting from 1989. After manufacturing, EVMs are sent by ECI to State and district after rigorous safety measures.
* Manufacturers do not have any knowledge of candidate who is contesting or their ballot no , so that no manipulation can be done.
India’s EVMs: Among the Most Secure in the World
Unlike the EVMs used in the Netherlands, Ireland, and Germany, which lacked independent certification systems, India’s EVMs undergo stringent verification and certification by an independent Technical Expert Committee (TEC) or an ECI-approved third party.
The Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue remains awaited, but the ECI maintains that India’s EVMs are among the most secure and technologically advanced voting machines globally, ensuring free and fair elections.
