Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar firmly rejected concerns surrounding the varying battery levels in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), assuring the public that the machines are “safe and robust.” Speaking at a press conference, Kumar explained that the batteries used in EVMs are more like those in calculators, which do not require daily charging, unlike mobile phones.
EVMs, Kumar said, feature a comprehensive, three-layer security system, including battery management, and each step is overseen by political party representatives. He emphasized that signatures from party officials are obtained at each stage to ensure full transparency.
“People often ask, if pagers can be hacked, why not EVMs? The difference is that pagers are connected devices, but EVMs are not,” Kumar clarified while announcing the poll dates for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections. His remarks come amidst ongoing concerns from various political groups regarding the vulnerability of EVMs.
Referencing incidents where Israel had successfully hacked pagers used by Hezbollah, Kumar noted that EVMs operate on a completely different system. “The batteries in EVMs are single-use, similar to those in calculators. A single battery can last up to five years,” he explained. “When a machine is commissioned, the battery is installed just a few days before voting. Party representatives even sign off on the battery installation. This rule was established long ago, and it has become crucial for us today.”
Kumar stressed that EVMs undergo rigorous checks and are sealed with a double lock under a three-layer security system. “On election day, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel and observers are present, and the process is videographed to maintain transparency,” he added. “This level of public participation and disclosure is unparalleled.”
The Congress party had raised 20 specific complaints regarding EVMs, particularly in relation to the October 8 Haryana elections. According to Rajiv Kumar, each of these complaints will be addressed individually, and the Election Commission’s (ECI) responses will be made publicly available.
“We’ve received 20 complaints, and it is our duty to address them fact by fact. Every candidate will receive a response, and we will post these publicly,” Kumar assured.
The Congress party had previously alleged that discrepancies in EVM battery levels might have impacted election results in Haryana. They claimed that polling stations where EVMs had a 99% battery charge tended to favor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while those with a 60-70% charge leaned toward Congress.
The BJP secured a significant victory in Haryana, winning 48 out of 90 seats, while the Indian National Congress managed to win 37 seats. Independent candidates took three seats, and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) secured two.
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