Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have once again become a topic of controversy. Elon Musk, the chief of Twitter (now X), Tesla, and SpaceX, has said that it is possible for humans and AI to hack EVMs. In India too, there is ongoing discussion about the risks of hacking electronic voting machines. However, the Election Commission maintains that EVMs cannot be hacked. Meanwhile, let’s learn some facts about EVMs that are not widely known.
What is EVM and What’s Inside it?
An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is an electronic device used for voting and counting in elections. It has two units: the Control Unit (CU) and the Ballot Unit (BU). Voters press a button on the Ballot Unit to cast their vote, which is then stored by the Control Unit. The Control Unit is kept with the polling officer, while voters cast their votes using the Ballot Unit. The Ballot Unit displays party symbols, candidates’ names, and photos, with blue buttons next to them. Voters cast their vote by pressing these buttons. Once the last vote is cast at the polling station, the polling officer presses the close button on the Control Unit, after which no more votes can be cast. To get the results, the result button on the Control Unit is pressed, and the total vote count is displayed.
An EVM contains a microprocessor that can only be programmed once. This means that the programming cannot be altered after it is set, and no other software can be installed on it. As an electronic device, one might think it requires electricity to operate, but it does not. Each EVM comes with an alkaline power battery pack, eliminating the need for an external power source.
Who Makes EVM?
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactures Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for various types of elections in the country. Bharat Electronics Limited is a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It produces state-of-the-art electronic products and systems for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The EVMs currently used in India can store 2,000 votes, while the older model could store 3,840 votes. The data in an EVM can be securely stored for more than 10 years. It costs approximately ₹8,500 to manufacture one EVM unit.
Also read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 7 Stocks to Buy or Sell Now
Can EVM Get Hacked?
The Election Commission has clarified that EVMs cannot be hacked. EVMs are standalone machines and are not connected to any network by wire or wirelessly. Once a program is written into the machine, it cannot be altered. This means no other software can be written onto it, nor can any modifications be made.