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Amid ongoing debate over the battery life of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following the Haryana poll results, former Chief Election Commissioner O. P. Rawat clarified on Wednesday that the use of a battery in EVMs ensures no external connection.
Speaking to ANI, Rawat said, "The philosophy behind using a battery in an EVM is to ensure it has no connection to the outside world. If the EVM were powered by electricity via a cord, political parties might allege tampering through that cord. Hence, the Election Commission decided that EVMs would be powered solely by batteries." He further explained that the EVM's battery can last for up to two days when fully charged, including during mock polls. The results remain unaffected whether voting occurs under low or high battery charge. Additionally, voters can verify their choice via the VVPAT slip, he added. Addressing battery consumption, the former CEC noted that it depends on the usage, beginning from the initiation of the mock poll. "I have observed that at some polling stations only 10-12 votes are cast during mock polls, while at others, 80-100 votes are recorded, so the rate of battery discharge varies. However, this does not impact the voting process," he said. (ANI)
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