No Internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi in Indian EVMs: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday reiterated that electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in Indian elections are manufactured by public sector undertakings and do not have any internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity. During an interaction with students at Colvin Taluqdars’ College in Lucknow, he responded to questions about the security and reliability of the voting devices.

Mr. Kumar is on a two-day visit to the city, during which he has been engaging with students and civil society groups. At the college, he discussed the working of India’s democratic system, the electoral process, and the role of young voters, according to an official statement from the Election Commission. He also touched upon the increasing importance of verifying information in the age of social media.

“Before accepting any information, it is essential to check its source and verify its authenticity,” Mr. Kumar told the students, in remarks that came amid ongoing discussions about misinformation related to elections. He urged them to rely on credible sources and not to share unverified content.

The Chief Election Commissioner also used the opportunity to speak about his personal journey. Recalling his school days in 1979, he expressed gratitude towards his teachers, saying they played a significant role in shaping his career. He recounted that at one point he was preparing to go to the United States, but his mother’s wish and his attachment to the motherland prompted him to stay and serve the country. Subsequently, he cleared the civil services examination and joined the Indian Administrative Service in the Kerala cadre.

Drawing attention to the magnitude of the electoral exercise, Mr. Kumar said India has nearly 100 crore registered voters. “Conducting elections for such a vast electorate is itself a massive task,” he observed. He also acknowledged the efforts of the large number of officials and employees who work to ensure that polling runs smoothly across the country.

In his address, the CEC laid special emphasis on youth participation in democracy. He referred to Article 326 of the Constitution, which grants voting rights to all citizens who have attained the age of 18 years. He advised students who have reached voting age to register themselves through the Election Commission’s digital platforms. He also encouraged them to motivate their family members and friends to vote.

“Young people are the most important force behind the democratic future of the country. If they participate in the electoral process with awareness, democracy will become stronger,” Mr. Kumar said.

The Election Commission has, over the years, repeatedly asserted that EVMs are standalone machines with no networking capability. The devices are manufactured by two public sector companies — Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited. The commission has maintained that the machines are tamper-proof and are subjected to strict security protocols. However, questions regarding their vulnerability have often been raised by various political parties and activists.

Mr. Kumar’s remarks come at a time when the Election Commission is preparing for upcoming assembly elections in several states. The visit to Lucknow is part of a broader outreach initiative aimed at increasing voter awareness and addressing public queries about the electoral process.