Summary
- The Election Commission of India affirmed that EVMs used in Maharashtra’s 2024 Assembly elections were tamper-proof after a thorough C&V process.
- All tested machines, including 48 ballot units and 31 VVPATs, showed no mismatches or errors.
- The ECI on EVM verification directly counters Opposition allegations of vote manipulation in key constituencies.
Trust Tested, Integrity Proven
In a reaffirmation of the robustness of India’s electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were entirely tamper-proof. The announcement comes after the successful completion of the ‘Checking and Verification’ (C&V) exercise in ten key Assembly constituencies. This official statement on ECI on EVM verification arrives at a critical juncture, following widespread claims by the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alleging irregularities between EVM counts and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
The ECI’s announcement effectively aims to quell public distrust and political accusations, especially after ten candidates requested C&V in contested constituencies. With all machines clearing diagnostic tests and producing matching VVPAT results, the ECI maintains that the electoral outcome stands on firm procedural and technical grounds. The ECI on EVM verification now serves not only as a validation of the process but also as a direct challenge to misinformation campaigns surrounding EVM integrity.
🔴 ताज़ा ख़बर: 🗳️ महाराष्ट्र में EVM पूरी तरह सही — ✅ कोई छेड़छाड़ नहीं, कोई गड़बड़ी नहीं!
— प्रसन्न कुमार पाढी (@PADHYPRASANKRT) July 31, 2025
📍 10 अहम सीटों पर दोबारा जांच में फिर साबित हुआ:
𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞 = 𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙤 | हेरफेर = 𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙤
असल में “हैक” क्या हुआ?
👉 विपक्ष का फर्ज़ी नैरेटिव 😹#EVM_सच#महाराष्ट्र#चुनाव2024… pic.twitter.com/HdsAaUw3Er
The Verification Process That Sealed the Debate
- All 48 ballot units, 31 control units, and 31 VVPATs were verified across 10 constituencies.
- The process involved engineers from Electronics Corporation of India Limited and candidate representatives.
The credibility of India’s EVM system was put to a public test when, in response to petitions from 10 losing candidates, the ECI ordered a diagnostic examination of machines used in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. As outlined in the official statement on ECI on EVM verification, the Commission initiated a methodical verification drive from June 17, culminating on July 31.
The exercise took place across a diverse set of constituencies—Kopri-Pachpakhadi and Thane in Thane district, Khadakwasla in Pune, Majalgaon in Beed, Arni in Yavatmal, Yevla in Nashik, Chandgad and Kolhapur North in Kolhapur, and Panvel and Alibaug in Raigad. Each location underwent memory checks, microcontroller inspections, and mock polls to validate the diagnostic integrity of the EVMs.
As highlighted by the ECI on EVM verification, engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL)—the manufacturer of the machines—personally supervised the tests. Their certified report confirmed that no discrepancies were found, and VVPAT slips matched control unit data in all cases. The exercise reestablished that the machines were not only fully functional but also secure from tampering.
Where Allegations Collide with Technical Proof
- MVA leaders alleged inconsistencies in VVPAT-EVM matching.
- The C&V outcome disproved claims in every tested constituency.
The political overtones of this verification exercise are impossible to ignore. Prominent voices in the MVA, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP factions, had persistently called into question the electoral process. Claims of mismatches between EVM and VVPAT data dominated headlines, sparking a new debate on electoral transparency.
However, the official stance of ECI on EVM verification offers data-backed clarity. Not only did the C&V procedure involve eight of the ten candidates who had raised concerns, but the results also aligned perfectly between digital and paper records. This undercuts the Opposition’s narrative and puts the onus back on political actors to respect electoral outcomes validated through official channels.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responded swiftly, urging Opposition parties to stop misleading the public. “They must accept the poll mandate now that the ECI on EVM verification has laid the issue to rest,” he stated, pointing out the damage such allegations can inflict on democratic institutions.
Democratic Process and Technical Backbone
- VVPAT integration has added a new layer of transparency since 2019.
- Only manufacturers Bharat Electronics Ltd. and ECIL supply EVMs, with multiple security protocols in place.
The C&V outcome serves as a strong counter to the recurring doubts cast on EVMs. As per the ECI’s guidelines, EVMs are sealed and stored in strong rooms guarded by Central Armed Police Forces after polling. Furthermore, the machines undergo a series of checks—including first-level checks (FLC), randomization, and mock polls—before and after elections.
The robust defense in the ECI on EVM verification statement also underlines how VVPAT slips serve as independent verification tools. According to the ECI, each VVPAT machine prints a paper slip displaying the name, symbol, and serial number of the chosen candidate, visible to the voter for seven seconds before falling into a sealed box. This makes manipulation post-vote virtually impossible.
Official data from the ECI shows that in the 2024 Maharashtra elections, over 7,000 VVPAT slips were randomly verified across the state, with zero instances of mismatch—a number now reinforced by this additional verification round.
The Political Aftermath and Rebuilding Public Confidence
- Allegations of fraud may erode voter trust if left unanswered.
- The ECI on EVM verification now stands as a reference model for future disputes.
Although the Commission has successfully defended the integrity of its systems, the political damage from repeated misinformation campaigns can be long-lasting. In recent years, voter turnout has seen slight declines in states where EVM trust issues have been widely politicized.
By conducting a transparent, multi-stakeholder verification process, the ECI on EVM verification attempts to not only settle disputes from the 2024 Maharashtra elections but also fortify public faith ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. It also sets a precedent that could be replicated in other states facing similar controversies.
Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and other independent technology audit bodies have long advocated for more public demonstrations of EVM transparency. The successful completion of the C&V process, as stated in the ECI on EVM verification, is likely to be cited as best practice.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Electoral Resilience
- Future innovations could include blockchain-based voting logs or expanded use of biometric validation.
- The Commission may roll out educational campaigns on EVM functionality.
The Maharashtra case will likely influence how the ECI approaches similar challenges in other states. In its communication strategy moving forward, the Commission may focus on preventive education, holding workshops and digital campaigns explaining the EVM-VVPAT ecosystem. A 2022 study by the Ministry of Law and Justice found that over 38% of Indian voters were unsure how VVPAT works—an information gap that fuels misinformation.
One forward-looking recommendation that has emerged following the ECI on EVM verification exercise is for the Commission to expand random VVPAT matching to more than five polling stations per Assembly constituency. This, combined with video documentation of strong room access and data sealing, may enhance confidence in marginal and high-profile elections.
Election Integrity Reaffirmed
As India prepares for a series of critical state and municipal elections, the success of the Maharashtra C&V process could not be more timely. The official endorsement of the machines’ accuracy by the ECI on EVM verification serves as a reminder that institutional safeguards are not only functional but effective. It also presents a cautionary tale against politically motivated disinformation, which can jeopardize trust in one of the world’s largest democratic processes.
The statement from ECI on EVM verification is more than a technical bulletin—it is a reaffirmation of the democratic contract between voter and system. In an age of increasing skepticism and digital propaganda, such transparency might be the only vaccine against democratic decay.
