Can the EVM machines used for Indian elections be hacked/tampered?



Request: Read complete answer before jumping to any conclusion.

Yes, EVMs can be Hacked. But process is not trivial. Also, you need physical access to control unit, seal breaking of unit, time and lots of technical knowledge.

One way to hack is manufacture units which are programmed to record wrong votes (that can’t be the case, as ruling/powerful parties would have never lost).
 Hacking can’t be just done by pressing buttons in some sequence, so it can’t be done in polling booths with so many watchful eyes and within few seconds.

Data is stored in a chip inside control unit, votes are recorded in it using ballot unit. In strong room only control unit is stored and ballot unit is separated. So even if some one get access to strong room (which is sealed and watched by police and representative of candidates) and can replace the seals (as they are sealed), one can’t just reset the votes recorded and record votes again without ballot unit.


It leaves only viable option for tampering is opening the control unit and manipulating the data in chip. That’s why I said time and lots of technical knowledge.



Now, to influence results of election of scale of General Election thousands of EVMs needs to be tampered as one control unit has votes of max 1500 voters. So, practically its impossible to hack enough EVMs to overturn General Election results.

What do you think Hackers is it very easy to hack the EVMs ?can the Votes be temper ? comment and share your Views!