ECI Confirms EVMs Are Tamper-Proof After Verification

Quick Summary

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) declared Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are “tamper-proof” following the completion of the ‘Checking and Verification’ (C&V) process for Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024.
• Applications for C&V were submitted by 10 candidates who contested in the elections, including those from constituencies like Thane, Pune, Beed, Yavatmal, Nashik district, Kolhapur district, and Raigad district.
• The process involved tests on 48 ballot units, 31 control units, and 31 VVPATs across these constituencies where all machines passed diagnostic evaluations with no mismatches found between EVM results and VVPAT slips.
• Engineers from Electronics corporation of India Limited certified the machines during diagnostic procedures that verified memory/microcontroller integrity; a subsequent mock poll also confirmed accurate results.
• Allegations had previously been raised by Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regarding discrepancies with EVMs; however, all tests were conducted under observation by applicants and their representatives.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The prosperous verification of EVMs as tamper-proof is a significant outcome for India’s election management integrity.With periodic allegations about discrepancies raised by political parties or candidates-such as those from Maha Vikas Aghadi post-maharashtra Assembly elections-the transparency provided through detailed diagnostics plays an essential role in maintaining public trust in electoral processes.

By involving observers like candidate representatives during testing phases-including engineers’ certifications-this approach fosters accountability while addressing concerns over potential electoral manipulation. Continued efforts to demonstrate reliability via mechanisms like VVPAT matching further solidify India’s commitment to credible democratic exercises. However, vigilance remains crucial to ensure that such processes meet evolving demands for transparency as technology progresses.

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