EVMs Tamper-Proof and Secure: Electoral Officer Refutes Allegations

Amid rising concerns and allegations of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), State Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam clarified that these claims are baseless. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, he emphasized that EVMs are designed to be foolproof, with no possibility of manipulation. Addressing accusations by certain candidates claiming to have received zero votes in their own constituencies, he attributed these to misinformation and reiterated that the machines are secure.

Chockalingam explained that EVMs consist of three main components: a control unit, a ballot unit, and a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The control unit is equipped with an unalterable burnt-in chip that records votes securely. The VVPAT, introduced to enhance transparency, provides visual confirmation of a voter’s choice by displaying the selected symbol. Technically, the machines are isolated from wireless networks like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and cannot be reprogrammed. Administratively, transparency is ensured through processes such as candidate inspections of the machines after nominations are finalized.

The voting process itself is designed to maintain integrity. Once a voter presses the button on the ballot unit, their vote is recorded, and the VVPAT immediately displays their selected symbol for confirmation. The machines reveal the total number of votes at the end of polling, but the candidate-wise count is only displayed during the official counting process. Chockalingam highlighted that each voter is allowed to cast their vote only once, making the system highly reliable.

He also discussed measures taken by the Election Commission (EC) to ensure smooth elections. These include rigorous verification protocols for EVMs, following directives from the Supreme Court, and new policies such as introducing multiple registration deadlines for first-time voters. Programs like SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) have further boosted voter registration while maintaining transparency. Responding to allegations of booth capturing and irregularities, Chockalingam stated that no such incidents occurred. Any minor disruptions were handled promptly by law enforcement, and voting continued seamlessly after replacing affected machines. Claims of zero votes and discrepancies in counting were thoroughly investigated and disproven.