Malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

• Several states had flagged the malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls according to documents obtained through the Right to Information.

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)

• Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is a simple electronic device used to record votes in place of ballot papers and boxes which were used earlier in conventional voting systems.
• EVM usage was started back in 1982 Kerala Assembly elections. Prior to this only ballot papers and ballot boxes were allowed.
• EVM has two parts, it consists of a ‘control unit’ and a ‘balloting unit’, connected by a 5-meter cable. 
• Polling officer appointed by Election Commission has the control unit, and it is the brain of the EVM.
• The balloting unit is in the voting compartment into which the voter enters to cast the vote in secret by pressing the button against the name and symbol of the candidate of her choice.
• The balloting unit turns on only after the polling officer presses the ‘Ballot’ button on it. 
• The EVM runs on a 6 volt single alkaline battery fitted in the control unit, and can even be used in areas that have no electricity.

Production and design

There are only two Indian PSUs that manufacture EVM machines;

• Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) and 
• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).

• The secret source code is only accessible to a few engineers. 
• EVMs have a life of 15 years and in the presence of an officer of EC, the chips which have the code, are crushed.
• Even CU, BU display units are removed from the plastic holding and are crushed.

What is malfunctioning of EVMs?

• Malfunction or breakdown of EVMs doesn’t imply they are open to rigging or tampering. 
• Like any machine, EVMs too can malfunction. However, frequent instances of breakdown can lead to interruptions in voting, slowing down the process and potentially affecting voter turnout.
• To ensure the functionality of EVMs, they undergo First-level check (FLC). FLC is the initial technical examination of the EVM’s Ballot Unit (BU) and Control Unit (CU) as well as the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). 
• Engineers conduct this process in the six months leading up to the Lok Sabha polls at the district level under the supervision of a District Election Officer (DEO). If any EVM part malfunctions during the FLC, it is returned to the manufacturers.

Additional read- Criteria for recognition of Political Parties.

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