The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutionally independent body that manages all elections to Parliament and State Assemblies. It is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, who can only be removed through the same process as a Supreme Court judge. This independence is designed to prevent the government-of-the-day from manipulating elections in its favour.
How EVMs Work — and Why They're (Controversial but) Trusted
An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) consists of two units: a Ballot Unit (with candidate buttons) and a Control Unit (operated by the presiding officer). They are connected by a 5-metre cable during voting and disconnected thereafter. EVMs have no internet connectivity, no Bluetooth, no Wi-Fi, and no external port — they are purpose-built, standalone devices. Each EVM stores votes in a tamper-evident encrypted chip. The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine prints a paper slip showing the candidate symbol for each vote cast — visible to the voter for 7 seconds.
EVM Facts
- Manufactured by: BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd) and ECIL (Electronics Corp of India Ltd) — both PSUs
- No wireless capability: No internet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or external port
- VVPAT: Paper audit trail — voter sees their vote confirmed for 7 seconds
- First-level checking: EVMs are shown to political party representatives before deployment
- Storage: Kept in district-level strong rooms under 24-hour video surveillance and multi-party lock
- EVM challenges resolved by courts: Over 500 petitions dismissed — no court has found tampering
The Model Code of Conduct
What the MCC Allows vs Prohibits
Every voter has an absolute right to cast their vote. If you're told your name is missing, ask for a Tender Vote (fallback paper ballot). If denied without reason, call the EC helpline 1950 or the nearest Returning Officer. You can also file a complaint at voterportal.eci.gov.in.
What is the VVPAT and what is its purpose?
Priya Sharma
Political Correspondent