CLAIM
With the elections upon us, several false claims related to the process and use of EVMs have been doing the rounds. One such claim, viral on social media, states in places with more than 100 candidates, EVMs will not be used. The message then goes on to urge people to help nominate more candidates so as to use ballot papers and “save democracy.”
Several people have shared this message on Twitter and Facebook.
TRUE OR FALSE?
This viral claim is false. The spokesperson of the Election Commission of India, Sheyphali Sharan, took to Twitter to clarify the matter. According to her, the latest EVMs can accommodate up to 384 candidates.
“Latest EVMs can take up to 384 candidates including NOTA. Wherever required those EVMs will be deployed,” she said in her tweet.
EC BATTLES AGAINST FAKE NEWS
This is hardly the first time that the EC has had to face fake news and misinformation in this election season.
Earlier, a viral message claimed that NRI voters, who hold an Indian passport, could vote online and could enroll for the same on the EC website, with the link carrying the EC’s logo to add authenticity. This rumour, debunked by WebQoof, was also rubbished by the ECI.
The EC has now registered a complaint with the Delhi police, asking them to track down the miscreants who enabled this particular rumour to go viral and also misused the EC’s logo.
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