Election Commission throws open EVM challenge from June 3, asserts machines are tamper-proof

Asserting that improving election process is responsibility of all stakeholders and citizens of India, Zaidi said replacement of internal circuit of EVMs is not possible as they have strong technological features and are tamper-proof. “The Election Commission would like to assure the citizens of the country that the commission won’t leave any stone unturned to maintain the credibility and integrity of the election process. We want all citizens and stakeholders to be aware of our electoral processes so that the commission can further strengthen the conduct of free and fair elections in the country,” the CEC said.

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi along with Election Commissioners A K Joti demonstrating the working of EVMs and VVPATs, while brushing aside the EVM tampering allegation before addressing a press conference on EVM Challenge at Vigyan Bhawan. (PTI Photo)

Targeting critics, the Chief Election Commissioner stated that people who questioned the reliability of EVMs are yet to provide any proof or credible material to support their claim. With an aim to bring in more transparency, the Election Commission said all future elections will be held with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail System (VVPAT) along with EVMs across polling stations. He added that 16.5 lakh VVPAT are currently under production.

Last month, sixteen opposition parties had urged the Election Commission to adopt the old paper ballot system saying that the alleged tampering has created trust deficit in the credibility of the EVMs. Parties alleged that the machines used in the recently-held assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab were tampered with and favoured the BJP.

Earlier this month, the Aam Aadmi Party had conducted a live demonstration on how the voting machines can be manipulated during a special session of the Delhi assembly. However, the poll panel responded to the development saying it was a prototype which was made to function in a ‘tampered’ manner.

With inputs from PTI, ANI