EVMs tamper-proof, verification of machines used in Maha assembly confirms

The Election Commission of India (ECI) Thursday said it has successfully completed the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) Checking and Verification (C&V) exercise for the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.

This exercise, it said, was conducted based on applications received from 10 candidates across 10 Assembly constituencies.

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The verification process confirmed that the EVMs are tamper-proof, with all machines passing diagnostic tests and no mismatch found in the count of VVPAT slips.

The tests, it said, were conducted on 48 Ballot Units, 31 Control Units, and 31 VVPATs in the presence of losing candidates and their representatives.

Mock polls were conducted on some machines, and the results from the Control Unit were verified with the VVPAT slip count, showing no discrepancies.

Diagnostic tests were conducted on specific EVMs to verify the burnt memory/microcontroller, and all machines passed the tests.

The verification process was carried out by authorized engineers from the manufacturer (ECIL), ensuring the integrity of the process.

The Supreme Court had directed the ECI to allow verification of EVM and VVPAT burnt memories for candidates who finish second or third in an election. This move aims to enhance transparency and build trust in the electoral process.