No question of tampering with EVMs in three-tier security: CEC Sushil Chandra

Chandra said in an exclusive interview with ANI, the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh has suspended ADM Varanasi because he has not followed the procedures to inform political parties about the movement of EVMs for training purposes. .

The CEC said there was no question of EVM tampering. EVMs are being used continuously since 2004, till 2019 we have started maintaining Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) at every polling booth. After seeing them, the EVMs are sealed and their signatures are taken in the presence of agents of political parties. Dealer EVMs have been kept in the strong room amidst three-tier security. Our side strong rooms are equipped with CCTV cameras for round the clock surveillance. Agents of political parties also keep an eye on the strong room, so the question of EVM tampering does not arise, nor can an EVM be taken out of the strong room.

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Chandra said the question has been raised on EVMs in Varanasi, which were for training purpose. The mistake of the ADM was that he did not inform the political parties about the movement of EVMs for training purposes which was the standard operating procedure. Every EVM has a number. When asked by people of a political party, we showed them the EVM number, which was not matching with the EVM number generated for the election. They found that the question for which the EVM number was raised did not match with the EVM numbers, which were sealed and kept in the strong room for counting. After that they were satisfied. He further said that there are EVMs for training, demo purpose, some are kept safe with the Sector Magistrate in case any mistake occurs during polling to replace the faulty EVMs. But we ensure that none of the EVMs on which vote has been cast can be ejected from the staff room.

Justifying the suspension of Varanasi ADM NK Singh, the Chief Election Commissioner said, “EVM agitation after polling is over is a standard operating procedure.” The process is to inform political parties before movement of EVMs, which was not done by ADM, which created rumours, so we were bound to act on suspension against ADM.

Talking about the preparations made for the counting day, Chandra said, “The counting of votes is always done in a very transparent manner. It has a standard operating procedure under which we do the counting. Those who are only agents of the authorized political party, They are allowed. Come inside the counting center. If anyone has any doubt or problem, he can contact our supervisor. This is our whole process which is completely transparent.’ After each round, the agent of political parties is given a list of counts that how many counts have been done, the number of EVMs brought for counting matches that of the agents of political parties, we have the signatures of the agents and strong rooms It is under round-the-clock surveillance, Chandra said. He further elaborated that the EVMs have been covered in 3-tier security. Outside the strong room, political party agents are also monitoring, video cameras have been installed. EVM is secure and lastly, each assembly has 5 VVPATs which we also count, so there is no discrepancy and it is completely transparent.

This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.