M3 EVMs to make debut in Karnataka elections

For the first time in India, the M3 EVMS would be used in the country Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, Sanjiv Kumar said that the M3 or third generation EVMs would be used for the first time at 7 constituencies in Karnataka.

He also said that these machines can keep data of 384 candidates. The data of 64 candidates can be accessed at a single point of time, he also added.

The ECI had recently decided to phase out the existing machines in a phased manner and introduce the M3 EVMs. The new machines have a self diagnostic feature that would give the machine the ability to identify fault or defects within the system. Further the control and ballot unit can communicate with each other. If someone plants a Ballot Unit or Control Unit from outside, the digital signature will not match and the system would stop functioning.

The M3 EVM production is started in August at the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Lt plants.