EVM tampering reports 'false, factually incorrect': Election Commission

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday rejected reports of alleged EVM tampering and asserted that all machines used in the elections are absolutely safe in the strong rooms.

The EC clarification came amid allegations that EVMs were being changed in the strong rooms in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The charges of manipulations surfaced after some videos went viral purportedly showing EVMs being transported in open trucks.

The poll body in a statement clarified: "Election Commission of India would like to emphatically and unambiguously clarify that all such reports and allegations are absolutely false, and factually incorrect. The visuals seen viral on media do not pertain to any EVMs used during the elections," the poll body said in a statement.
"After the close of polls, all polled EVMs and VVPATs are brought under security cover to the designated strongrooms, which is sealed with double locks, in the presence of the candidates and in the presence of observers of the Election Commission," the EC statement said adding, "The entire process of storage and sealing of the strongroom is covered under videography. Continuous CCTV coverage is done till completion of counting. Each strongroom is guarded with round-the-clock security by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Further, the candidates or their designated agents remain present at the strongroom for 24X7 vigil at all times."
"On the counting day, the strongrooms are opened in the presence of the candidates/agents and observer under videography. Before the counting of EVMs commences, the counting agents are shown the address tags, seals and serial number of the EVMs to satisfy themselves to the genuineness and authenticity of the machinesused in the actual polls," the EC said.
The poll body stated that aspersions in clips being used in media merely pertain to the storage or movement of Reserve unused EVMs.
"However any case of lapse even in handling of Reserve EVMs is thoroughly investigated and disciplinary action taken against the officers responsible," the statement said.
The Election Commission also announced that an EVM Control Room with the number 011- 23052123 will function at Nirvachan Sadan for handling any EVM-related complaints till the completion of counting.
"The EVM control room will become operative from 11am on May 22, 2019," the poll body said.