To Check Tampering, EC to Buy Next Gen EVMs With Automatic 'Kill Switch'

The 'M3'-type electronic voting machines (EVMs) are also equipped with a self-diagnostic system for authentication of genuineness of the machines.

Only a "genuine" EVM — manufactured either by atomic energy PSU ECIL or defence PSU BEL — "communicates" with other EVMs in the field.

The Election Commission has decided to replace 9,30,430 EVMs purchased before 2006 as the older machines are nearing their 15-year life cycle, he said.

On July 20 last, a similar Election Commission proposal to buy nearly 14 lakh new EVMs — the first tranche — at a cost of Rs 9,200 crore during 2016-17 was approved by the Union Cabinet.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, the Law Ministry had said that EC has not purchased a single new machine in the last three fiscals.