Voters have always been curious about EVMs and opponents have always been skeptical. But whether EVMs can really be hacked?
In India, which has earned the reputation of being the world's largest democracy, elections have also started to become hi-tech. That is, the use of modern technology in the process of holding elections and actual voting is increasing day by day. When the first general election was held in 1951-52, ballot papers were used. Because, at that time, the number of illiterates in the country was huge. Along with funding, the duo also needed infrastructure. Still, till 1980, all types of elections were conducted in the country through ballot papers in this manner(EVM).
Paper ballots were used until the 1990s. However, in this country of more than 50 crore voters, there have been cases of encroachment of polling stations, tampering with ballot papers, multiple voting by the same person. In 1957, a large-scale organized takeover of polling stations was seen. In the 1960s, these tasks were handed over to criminal gangs. The problem became acute in the 1980s in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Then these pickles spread to Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal. Violence also reached a climax on election day. Other problems were the printing of paper ballots, their transportation and safe handling, the actual counting of millions of votes.
How do you ensure your preferred candidate gets the vote? You voted, but what happens next to those EVMs and VVPATs?
First experiment of EVM in Kerala
The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was developed in 1979 by the Central Election Commission in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited. EVMs were used for the first time on a limited scale in 1982 in a by-election to the Uttara Paravoor Assembly constituency in Kerala. Later, EVMs were used on a pilot basis in selected constituencies of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. However, EVM was used for the first time in 1999 in Goa assembly elections . In 2003, all by-elections and state elections were held using EVMs and thereafter EVMs and elections became synonymous.
The huge spread of above 80 crore voters and nearly 2000 political parties makes the general elections in the country a complicated process. Voters are at the center of this complex and challenging process. Sanctity of votes is the most sensitive issue. Until a few years ago, we used to see a picture of activists taking over the polling stations and tampering with the ballot boxes.
Many advantages of EVM
EVMs save approximately 10,000 tonnes of ballot paper for every national election, costing millions of ballot papers, printing them, transporting and storing them, and paying counting staff. EVMs are easier to transport than ballot boxes. Because, it is lighter and easier to transport. So counting of votes is also fast. Where illiteracy is high, people find EVMs easier. Since the vote is registered only once, bogus voting has been reduced to a great extent. Only battery is required to operate the EVM during polling and counting and once the polling is over, the battery can be switched off. The tenure of Indian EVMs is also 15 years.
This conventional picture was shattered with the advent of EVM machines. Voting started electronically. But now these lifeless electronic voting machines are in the midst of controversy. Currently, elections are being held across the country. A US-based technician claimed that EVM machines were hacked during the 2014 elections. However, the Election Commission of India has rejected this claim.
But still there are doubts about the reliability of these devices. Seven objections have been raised in court regarding the functioning and reliability of these machines. But the Election Commission has rejected these objections and claimed that the machines cannot be tampered with. Each of the country's 16 lakh voting machines count 2,000 votes (the number of authorized voters at any polling station does not exceed 1,500).
EVM : Design of EVM by two professors
As an alternative to cumbersome ballot papers, a. G. Rao and Ravi Poovaiah, two professors of IIT Bombay designed the EVM. After that this method of voting became popular. EVM consists of two units namely Control and Balloting. They are connected to each other by a five meter cable. Balloting unit facilitates the voter to vote through labeled buttons, while the balloting unit is controlled by the control unit. The operating program of the controller used in this device is permanently etched into the silicon during manufacture. Once the controller is created no one can change the program. The Control Unit is operated by the Polling Station Officer, while the Balloting URI is used for voting privacy.
These machines can also be used in places where power supply is irregular. Engineers from an electronics company run by the administration have manufactured these devices. It is claimed by the concerned that no one knows about these machines and their details except the group of engineers.
Voters register their vote by pressing a button on the machine. With another button, the polling officer can stop the polling process. Pressing this button stops the process after the polling time is over. Additionally, if the polling station is captured or the voting process is disturbed, pressing this button stops the process. Polling officials seal the voting machine with lacquer to prevent anyone from tampering with it. It is tied with a special thread provided by the Election Commission. It is given a serial number.
So far EVM machines have been used in 3 country level elections and 113 state elections. A radio receiver must be attached to the machine to prevent wireless hacking. It consists of electronic circuit and antenna. The concerned said that no such circuit has been connected to the machines used in India. Therefore, wholesale manipulation of voting machines in India is impossible.