Voting Machines Can't Be Hacked: Poll Body Chief Gyanesh Kumar Reaffirms In Ahmedabad Speech

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during his official two-day tour to Gujarat, delivered a keynote address on conducting elections in the world's largest democracy at the Ahmedabad Management Association. Addressing an audience of prominent citizens, academic leaders, and election officials, the poll body chief forcefully dismissed claims surrounding the possible vulnerability of Electronic Voting Machines. He emphasised that EVMs operate as standalone devices without any connectivity to electricity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or infrared, rendering remote hacking technically impossible.Highlighting the multi-tiered auditing process, the Chief Election Commissioner pointed out that voting transparency begins well before the first citizen casts a ballot. "Around 12 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) verify electoral rolls by visiting voters' homes. Continuous verification is carried out to ensure that eligible voters are included while ineligible names are removed," he added.Polling agents representing political parties participate in a mandatory one-hour mock poll before actual voting.