'EVMs are tamper proof': Election Commission reiterates claim amid fresh pleas by Maharashtra poll candidates

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday yet again asserted that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are tamper proof after a comprehensive checking and verification (C&V) process and a receipt of application from candidates who had contested the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. 

As per instructions issued by the Commission on 17 June 2025, the Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra has completed the EVM C&V pertaining to the Maharashtra polls.

“Based on the applications received from 10 candidates, checking and verification of the EVMs - ballot units, control units and VVPATs - was carried out across 10 Assembly constituencies and in all cases the machines passed the diagnostic tests and no mismatch was found in the count of VVPAT slips. This exercise proves, yet again, that the EVMs are tamper proof,” the ECI said in a press statement.

In the presence of eight applicants (who were losing candidates in the said election, those who applied for the C&V, other candidates who had contested for their representatives) C&V was successfully conducted on 48 ballot units, 31 control units and 31 VVPATs of 10 Assembly constituencies in the state.

Two applicant candidates did not choose to attend, the central poll body mentioned.

Diagnostic test for verifying burnt memory or microcontroller was conducted in areas like Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Thane, Khadakwasala and Majalgaon (in 3 sets of EVMs) following a request from the applicant candidates. 

After the diagnostic test, the authorised engineers from the manufacturer (ECIL) certified that all machines passed the diagnostic tests.

Diagnostic test along with mock poll was conducted in Panvel, Alibag, Arni, Yevla, Chandgad, Kolhapur North and remaining 3 sets of EVMs of Majalgaon. 

“In these cases, firstly diagnostic tests were conducted by the engineers. After diagnostic test, the authorized engineers from the manufacturer (ECIL) certified that all machines passed the diagnostic tests. Thereafter, mock poll was conducted on the machines as per the request received from the candidates. The results of the EVM (from Control Unit) were verified with the VVPAT slips count and no mismatch was found,” the ECI said.