Amid concerns over alleged tampering and suspected manipulation of EVMs, the Election Commission has set up a 24-hour EVM control room at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi to monitor complaints relating to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Any complaints on counting day related to EVMs can be put forth at the control room. Their number is 011-23052123.
A dedicated 24 hour control room has been set up to respond to any complaints related to EVM. You can call at 011 23052123. #ITrustEVM pic.twitter.com/RGKFEnN9fC
— Election Commission #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) May 22, 2019
The poll watchdog said strongrooms have been designed to keep sealed EVMs and Voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) in the presence of candidates and observers of the commission. These rooms are absolutely safe and the entire process of sealing and storage is videotaped by the officials.
The strongrooms are opened on the counting day and counting agents are shown seals, address tags and serial number of EVMs to maintain transparency and authenticity of the machines used in the polls.
The poll body said all protocols and provisions have been explained to political parties and it has been made clear that in any case of a lapse in handling these machines will be investigated. It also ensured a disciplinary action against the officer held responsible for it.
On Tuesday, the EC had rubbished reports of alleged movement of EVMs purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, terming them as ‘absolutely false’.
“Complaints of alleged movement of EVMs, purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, doing rounds in sections of media are absolutely false. Visuals seen viral on media do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls,” the EC said in a statement.
The statement from the poll body came after opposition parties citing TV reports complained that EVMs were replaced from the strongrooms in some constituencies of Uttar Pradesh.
(With ANI inputs)