Lucknow: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday said electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in India are manufactured by public sector companies and have no internet, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.
During his two-day visit to Lucknow, Kumar interacted with college students and discussed India’s democratic system, the election process, the reliability of EVMs and the importance of young voters.
EVMs not connected to wireless networks
Responding to questions about EVMs, the Chief Election Commissioner said the machines used in Indian elections are manufactured by public sector companies and are not connected to the internet or any wireless technology.
Kumar also urged students to be cautious about information circulating on social media. He advised them to verify the source and authenticity of information before accepting or forwarding it.
Young voters urged to register
Highlighting the scale of elections in India, Kumar said the country has around 100 crore voters and conducting elections for such a large electorate is a major exercise involving a large number of officials and employees.
He encouraged young people to participate actively in the democratic process and referred to Article 326 of the Constitution, urging students who have completed 18 years of age to register as voters.
Addressing another programme later, Kumar said elections in India are conducted according to the Constitution, laws and prescribed guidelines. He said political parties and candidates’ booth-level agents are involved in monitoring the process at various stages, from preparation of electoral rolls to voting and counting.
He also highlighted efforts by the Election Commission to strengthen Electoral Literacy Clubs, saying interactions had been held with principals, teachers and students across 20 districts to improve awareness about the electoral process and its transparency.
