New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has strongly rejected concerns over the possibility of Electronic Voting Machines being hacked, saying the machines used in Indian elections operate independently and have no connectivity that would allow remote access.
Speaking during his two-day visit to Gujarat at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Kumar explained that EVMs are standalone devices and are not connected to electricity networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or infrared systems. He said this makes remote hacking of the machines technically impossible.
The CEC also outlined the multiple safeguards involved in the electoral process. Electoral rolls are continuously verified through a network of around 12 lakh Booth Level Officers, who check voter details and help ensure that eligible citizens are included while ineligible names are removed.
Before polling begins, representatives of candidates participate in a mandatory mock poll to verify the functioning of the EVMs. The machines are used for actual voting only after the mock poll process is completed.
Kumar also highlighted the role of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail system. According to him, every vote recorded electronically is accompanied by a corresponding VVPAT slip, providing an additional mechanism for verification.
He said the total votes polled are recorded in Form 17C after voting ends, while the EVMs are sealed according to established procedures. During counting, results are verified in the presence of candidates’ counting agents.
The CEC further said technology is being increasingly used to improve coordination within the election machinery. Platforms such as ECI Net have helped integrate communication that was previously handled through multiple applications.
Kumar also pointed to India’s high voter participation, comparing recent turnout figures with those of several other democracies. He cited participation of 67.25 per cent in Bihar, 79.5 per cent in Kerala, 86 per cent in Tamil Nadu, 86.33 per cent in Assam, 91.11 per cent in Puducherry and 93.7 per cent in West Bengal.
He said the Election Commission’s systems are designed to ensure that voters can participate freely and confidently in the world’s largest democratic exercise.
