APRIL 12: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday rejected the suggestions that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the country are vulnerable to hacking. The Commission firmly stated that these machines function similarly to simple calculators, emphasizing that they are not connected to the internet or infrared technologies, thus making them highly secure.
The statement came in response to comments made by United States Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who suggested that her office had gathered evidence of vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems, which could potentially be exploited for manipulating votes. Gabbard had raised concerns about the security of electronic voting systems, particularly in relation to hacking.
However, the Election Commission of India pointed out that while some countries use “electronic voting systems” that are a complex mix of multiple systems, machines, processes, and private networks — including internet connectivity — India’s EVMs operate in a fundamentally different manner. The ECI clarified that India’s EVMs are standalone devices that are not connected to the internet, WiFi, or infrared systems, and thus cannot be hacked remotely.
The Commission further highlighted that these EVMs have withstood rigorous legal scrutiny by the Supreme Court of India. They are regularly checked by political parties at various stages of the election process. Before actual voting begins, “mock polls” are conducted to ensure the machines are functioning correctly and are tamper-proof. This process helps in maintaining transparency and builds confidence among political parties and the public in the integrity of the voting system.
Additionally, more than five crore paper trail slips from EVMs have been verified and matched during the counting process, in the presence of political party representatives. This ensures the accuracy and correctness of the votes counted, further cementing the reliability of the machines.
In response to similar claims made by international figures, former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had also addressed concerns regarding EVM hacking. He dismissed the allegations, pointing out that India’s election system uses a highly secure, offline mechanism, and compared it to the electronic voting systems used in the US, which are often seen as vulnerable due to their reliance on complex networks and the internet.
In conclusion, the Election Commission reiterated that India’s EVMs are secure, reliable, and have been tested and verified extensively to ensure fair elections.
 on Friday rejected the suggestions that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the country are vulnerable to hacking){kind=link}