Election Commission warns EVM votes may be cancelled if perfume or ink found on buttons

The Election Commission has issued stringent new guidelines ahead of the first phase of the Assembly elections, warning that any presence of perfume, ink, glue, or chemical substances on the ballot unit buttons of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be treated as a serious case of suspected tampering. The Commission has stated that such incidents will be dealt with under a zero-tolerance policy.

According to the directive, if any foreign or suspicious substance is found on a candidate’s button, the concerned vote may be declared invalid. In addition, repolling can be ordered at the affected polling booth, and legal action may be initiated against individuals found responsible for the act. The Commission has described such interference as a violation of ballot secrecy.

The decision comes after reports suggesting that certain anti-social elements or political workers could attempt to use perfume or invisible ink to mark EVM buttons in order to track voting patterns. The Commission has emphasized that such actions undermine the fundamental principle of free and confidential voting.

All presiding officers have been instructed to inspect EVM ballot units thoroughly before polling begins and continue monitoring during voting hours. Any detection of unusual substances must be immediately reported to the Returning Officer for necessary action and escalation.

Alongside this directive, the Commission has also strengthened broader security arrangements ahead of voting in 152 Assembly constituencies. Additional restrictions, including controls on motorcycle movement, tourist area regulations, and increased paramilitary deployment near polling booths, have been put in place to ensure peaceful and transparent elections.