Indian EVMs not connected to internet or WiFi, says EC after US official comments

Context

Against the backdrop of claims by U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that electronic voting systems are vulnerable to hacking, the Election Commission on Friday said India uses electronic voting machines (EVM) which work like “simple, correct and accurate calculators” and cannot be connected to either the Internet, Wi Fi, or Infrared

EC sources said some countries use electronic voting systems which are a mix of multiple systems, machines, and processes, including various private networks like the Internet. In India, while pressing the button of choice, the voter can also see the corresponding VVPAT slips for enhancing his or her satisfaction and confidence.

Counting of any number of votes (even 100 crores) can be completed in less than a day and no one can tamper with these machines which are either stored in a strong room or with an authorised person at any given point of time, the sources added.

EVM (Electronic Voting Machine)

EVM is a device used to record votes electronically. They were first used in the Paravur Assembly Constituency of Kerala in the year 1982.

Since 1998, the Election Commission has increasingly used EMVs instead of ballot boxes.

In 2003, all state elections and by-elections were held using EVMs.

Encouraged by this, in 2004, the Commission took a historic decision to use only EVMs for the Lok Sabha elections.

Development: It has been devised and designed by the Technical Experts Committee (TEC) of the Election Commission in collaboration with two Public Sector undertakings: Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore (under Ministry of Defence) and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd, Hyderabad (under Department of Atomic Energy).