DMK writes to ECI seeking use of new EVMs

The DMK on Wednesday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, and other election commission officials seeking the use of recently manufactured EVMs for the upcoming Assembly poll on April 6. It also sought provision of CCTV live coverage or live web streaming during voting in all polling booths, installation of jammers in the strong rooms and counting centres where the EVMs will be stored and also counting of at least 50% of VVPATs simultaneously. In a representation to the Election Commission, DMK propaganda secretary Tiruchi Siva said the life span of EVMs is only 15 years as per information in the public domain. The EVMs manufactured by BEL and ECIL have been in use since 2001 in all the elections across the country. Mr. Siva said there is a fear of tampering these EVMs and manipulation of recorded data by hacking with latest technology. He said western countries and those with advanced technology do not prefer electronic voting and use only ballot paper.