CEC stresses EVMs safe,wants none-of-the-above option

The CEC also reiterated the Election Commissions EC stand on EVMs and said that they were totally infallible and tamperproof. The EC had earlier asked anti-EVM activists to demonstrate to its technical committee how the voting machines could be manipulated .

While Leader of Opposition,L K Advani,supported by the CPM,JD U,LJP,and AIADMK,has asked the EC to reassure the country that EVMs cannot be manipulated, or failing which,reintroduce ballot papers in the coming elections in three states later this year,a slew of activists,including Delhi Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal,alleged that the EVMs could be manipulated by using a pre-programmed software. When a Hyderabad-based NGO,voicing similar apprehensions,moved the Supreme Court,it was asked to approach the Election Commission.

The CEC stressed that EVMs were being manufactured by two public sector companies. There is a thorough process of randomisation while sending EVMs to various booths. One doesnt know which machine is being sent to which state,whos the presiding officer. One cant remove the chip in an EVM, he said.