Chief Election Commissioner Emphasizes Security of Public Sector-Manufactured EVMs

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar addressed the technical and operational framework of India's electoral system during his visit to Lucknow on Monday, August 24, 2026. Speaking at the historic Colvin Taluqdars’ College and subsequent programmes, Kumar discussed the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the role of young voters in the country's democracy.

Addressing questions regarding the security of voting equipment, the CEC emphasised that Indian EVMs are manufactured by public sector companies. He explicitly stated that these machines do not feature internet, Bluetooth, or wireless connectivity, addressing concerns related to potential external interference.

During his interaction with students, Kumar advised young citizens to verify the sources and authenticity of information before accepting or sharing it, particularly given the prevalence of content on social media platforms.

Reflecting on his own background, Kumar shared details from his student days in 1979 and his decision to pursue public service in India rather than moving to the United States. He subsequently cleared the civil services examination, joined the Kerala cadre of the Indian Administrative Service, and eventually assumed the role of Chief Election Commissioner.

Highlighting the sheer scale of the national voting infrastructure, Kumar noted that India has approximately 100 crore eligible voters. He stated that conducting elections for such a vast electorate requires a massive task supported by a large number of officials and employees.

The CEC encouraged individuals turning 18 to register as voters under Article 326 of the Constitution, noting that the Election Commission provides digital platforms for voter registration. He urged youth to engage their family members and peers in election participation, calling young people an important force for the democratic future.

Speaking on procedural transparency, Kumar explained that elections are conducted in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and guidelines. He detailed that concurrent audits are carried out at various stages by booth-level agents during electoral roll preparation, candidates' polling agents during polling, and counting agents during the vote counting process.

Kumar also spoke about the Conference on Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELC) and the ECINET App held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. He stated that the Election Commission has undertaken concerted efforts to strengthen Electoral Literacy Clubs across districts to ensure students gain a comprehensive understanding of the electoral process.

"From a business and governance perspective, transparency and security are paramount in managing systems of massive scale. Operating India's democratic machinery for nearly 100 crore voters requires robust protocols, independent audits at every stage, and public trust in domestically manufactured technology. The assurance that critical voting infrastructure functions independently of internet and wireless connectivity highlights a deliberate approach to risk mitigation and operational integrity." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes