Amid doubts and apprehensions raised about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asserts that the machines are 100% safe due to a number of safeguards in place. As the first phase of Lok Sabha elections commence, Kumar appeals to citizens to participate in the festival of democracy and exercise their right to vote without any hesitation. He also highlights the Commission's use of technology to reach out to traditionally less-voting segments of the population and reports of enthusiastic voter turnout across constituencies on the first day of polling.
EVMs in India: Safeguarding the Integrity of Elections
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been a subject of debate in India, raising concerns about their reliability and security. However, the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, has asserted that EVMs are "100% safe" due to stringent safeguards in place.
Background:
EVMs were introduced in India in 1998 to address concerns about electoral fraud and malpractices associated with paper ballots. They enable voters to cast votes electronically, recording them on a control unit located inside the machine. The results are stored in a ballot unit connected to the control unit.
Safeguards:
To ensure the integrity of EVMs, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has implemented several safeguards:
Recent Developments:
Ahead of the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, CEC Rajiv Kumar appealed to citizens to participate in the election and exercise their right to vote without hesitation. He highlighted the ECI's efforts to use technology to engage with traditionally less-voting segments of the population.
FAQs:
1. Are EVMs hackable?
According to the ECI, EVMs are designed to be tamper-proof and to prevent unauthorized access or manipulation.
2. What happens if an EVM malfunction occurs?
In case of a malfunction, a replacement EVM is deployed immediately, ensuring that the election process is not affected.
3. How are EVMs tested for reliability?
EVMs are subjected to rigorous testing before being deployed for elections, including functional testing, vulnerability assessment, and security audits.
4. What is the role of the paper trail?
The paper trail generated by EVMs serves as a physical record of the votes cast. It can be used for verification and audit purposes in case of any disputes.
5. Has there been any evidence of EVM tampering?
Despite allegations and concerns raised in the past, there has been no conclusive evidence to suggest that EVMs have been tampered with or compromised in any significant way.
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