Debate over India’s Electronic Voting Machines resurfaced after allegations of tampering in recent elections. The Election Commission maintains that EVMs are secure and standalone, while critics highlight vulnerabilities before, during, and after polling.

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• EVMs have two units: control unit with officials, balloting unit for voters.
• Runs on 6-volt battery; no internet or external connectivity.
• Paper ballots replaced due to cost, logistics, and slow counting.
• First used in limited form in 1998; nationwide use in 2004 Lok Sabha polls.
• Allegations: chip manipulation, vote switching, Bluetooth-linked hacks.
• Doubts include rigging during polling and post-poll seal tampering.
• Global trend: many nations banned or restricted EVMs citing transparency issues.
• ECI says Indian EVMs are standalone, one-time-programmable, not PC-based.
• 2009 ECI challenge saw no one prove tampering on 100 sample machines.
• VVPAT added after Supreme Court order to enhance audit and verification.
• Full VVPAT deployment needs lakhs of units and long manufacturing timelines.