Election Commission says EVMs are 'non-tamperable'

Dismissing Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal's apprehensions that electronic voting machines could be rigged to favour BJP in the Delhi Assembly polls, the Election Commission on Wednesday said the machines are "non-tamperable".

Hours after Kejriwal met top EC officials over the issue, the commission came out with a press statement stressing that it has "full confidence in the non-tamperability of ECI-EVMs (EVMs used by the Election Commission of India) and assures all electors" across the country that the machines cannot be misused.

"The Election Commission would like to underline and allay any kind of doubt on the functioning of EVM. It is reiterated that the Commission has put in place elaborate administrative measures and procedural checks and balances aimed at prevention of any possible misuse or procedural lapses," the statement said.

It said the list of EVMs going to individual polling stations is given to the candidates for them to check.

"Furthermore, a mock poll is conducted in the presence of polling agents, when the polling agents can verify, inter alia, the EVM numbers. A mock poll certificate is taken before the commencement of poll. After the mock poll the machine is set back to zero and green paper seal printed at Government Security Press is put in (place)," the statement said.

After meeting EC top brass, Kejriwal had told reporters that the "Election Commission has cleared all our doubts about the EVM machine issue. They said that EVMs used are latest and tamper-proof. They are all double checked."

Kejriwal had claimed that discrepancies were found during a check of four such machines at Delhi Cantonment area. He had alleged that whatever button was pressed on the machines, the light against the BJP symbol lit up.