Question : Electronic Voting Machine

(a) the total number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with the Election Commission of India;
(b) the number of EVMs used during the recent General Elections of 2019 and Assembly Elections held simultaneously across the country;
(c) the details of the physical locations where the balance EVMs were stored along with the details of physical custodian of those machines and the organisations/units entrusted with the safety and security of the EVMs;
(d) the details of the location where EVMs are stored during the non-election season along with the details of those who are responsible for their physical security and their upkeep; and
(e) whether the Election Commission conducts a physical audit of each and every machine before they are deployed in any election and certify that they have not been tampered with or rigged in any manner whatsoever and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) and (b) : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed that 23.3 Lakh Ballot Units (BUs), 16.35 Lakh Control Units (CUs) and 17.4 Lakh Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) Units are available with them including those blocked in Election Petitions. These EVMS and VVPAT Units were allocated to States/UTs for use in elections which include those used for training, awareness, national reserve stock and poll day reserve. However, in poll for General Elections-2019 following quantities of EVMs and VVPATS were used:
S.N. Units Quantity (in Lakh)
1 Ballot Units 14.88
2 Control Units 11.3
3 VVPAT 11.59

(c) and (d) : The ECI has informed that EVMs are stored in EVM warehouses at District Headquarters. However, if it is not possible to store the EVMs at District HQs, then in warehouses at a place not below the Tehsil headquarters. The District Election Officers (DEO) are responsible for their physical security and their upkeep.

Armed police security is provided 24X7 at all such EVM/VVPAT warehouses in each district, throughout the election, as well as, non-election period.

(e): The Commission has informed that before every election, First Level Checking of every EVM and VVPAT is conducted by the authorised engineers of M/s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and M/s Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), in the presence of the representatives of National and State Recognised Political Parties. The engineers of these manufacturers certify that all the components of the machines are original.