e-Voting machines should have a simple inexpensive ink jet (or similar) technology printer attached to them. Most of these are just PC's in a different form factor (just as most ATM machines are), so it should be easy to add a USB or parallel port.
Simply print two postcards, both identical. Each card has a cryptographically-unique identifier at the top of it recorded at the time of vote, the votes in human readable form, and a block of barcode (machine readable).
The voter retains one postcard for their records, the other postcard is retained for public records. A separate system can be used to read the post cards in the event of a recount.
It's that easy -- if the voters disagree with an official recount, they still have their card showing how they voted. These could be audited by a third party still -- separate from the official recount.
I've had some exposure to the EVMs, some 15 years ago. I think they use the same product even now. These are old microcontroller based designs, and as it is, one cannot have trojans installed on them, because they run on old (possibly 8 bit) microcontroller code. They are quite unlike the Diebold machines, where one can have back-door programs.
I even doubt the wireless-tampering theory, because back then, there was no such GSM or other wireless technology, so these machines are quite unaware of them. Of course, as Mr. Hari Prasad showed, one can substitute an existing chip with a new wireless device, but then, that will call for modifying everything including the embedded assembly code on a ROM (or may be on the microcontroller itself), and these are not easy things to do.
Which proves that if someone has to tamper with the device, it has to be at the core design stage itself, and it will need the co-ordinated work of hundreds of people (or may be thousands, given the efficiency of PSUs), and such things are not easy to pull-off. There will always be people who will object to such attempts.
I however, think that it is a good idea to print an acknowledgement slip once vote is casted, which the voter can verify and drop into the box. This can then be used for re-verification, should disputes arise. The EVM was designed 20 years ago, and technology (and hacks) has improved so much, so one should seriously consider improving them.
Re: Need EVMs, but lets improve them
by usaradhi2010@rediffmail.com on Sep 04, 2010 08:56 PM
no one is asking to ban them. when some technical team asked EC to allow to inspect the EVM to clarirfy their own doubts. EC asked ECIL about their opinion, ECIL denied to open the box slating the Patent Reasons.
forceful argument,I must say,but who said that it's not possible to make a particular lot differently to suit a specific purpose?Just modify the code before it's fused into ICs and bingo!its done.Since once burnt,the software cannot be retrieved,no need to fear being getting caught!For the record, BEL is a public sector company with the government holding nearly 75% of its equity.The possibilities are enormous particularly in light of the fact that Bizta,the company which made the EVMs used for Venezuelan general elections where Hugo Chavez roared back to power with a record majority,had the government holding a 28% stake in the company-something that came to light after the elections were over.
We rely on computers for so many things from handling our bank accounts to paying online for so many purchases. In the financial industry, auditing computer systems and reliability checks are the industry norms. Use EVMs, but those EVMs should generate a bar-coded receipt, which should then be fed in to a parallel computer system to ensure there is a tally at each both-level, district levels, state levels and thus a national level. Unless, this parallel verification process is initiated, there is no point in claiming that EVMs are reliable and cannot be manipulated. Certainly, while avoiding booth-capturing with ballet papers, the enormity of Indian voting- population needs EVMs, with parallel verification and tallying system. Wake up Election Commission! Where there is a will, there is a way!
Re: CAN'T DO WITHOUT EVMs, BUT WE NEED A PARALLEL VERIFICATION S
by usaradhi2010@rediffmail.com on Sep 04, 2010 08:41 PM
in most of the situations and solutions u notified above tells us what happended after the transation and have a verification and tracking system, but in EVM, wedont have a way to track and see to whom i have voted. There were situations and complaints in the past where wtever button u press, vote has been casted to one party and one symbol, then ECIL engineers came and corrected the issue, so this system can be manipyulated, can have issues and can be corrected.
EVM fraud is a serious issue, if the allegations are proved. Irony is, this was introduced in India by NDA! At this point, for some reason the issue is not focused the way it has to be. Rajeev has raised very serious issue, which needs to be probed in a transparent way. The voting, Electronic or Paper needs a trail. There are enough flags on the present EVMs and the voting machines. There is a need to clear this rather than dragging the issue in the interest of Democracy beyond doubt. Fair Voting practices are needed which cannot be denied. In our democracy, voting and counting and a Trail are very important.
EVM fraud is a serious issue, if the allegations are proved. Irony is, this was introduced in India by NDA! At this point, for some reason the issue is not focused the way it has to be. Rajeev has raised very serious issue, which needs to be probed in a transparent way. The voting, Electronic or Paper needs a trail. There are enough flags on the present EVMs and the voting machines. There is a need to clear this rather than dragging the issue in the interest of Democracy beyond doubt. Fair Voting practices are needed which cannot be denied. In our democracy, voting and counting and a Trail are very important.
EVM fraud is a serious issue, if the allegations are proved. Irony is, this was introduced in India by NDA! At this point, for some reason the issue is not focused the way it has to be. Rajeev has raised very serious issue, which needs to be probed in a transparent way. The voting, Electronic or Paper needs a trail. There are enough flags on the present EVMs and the voting machines. There is a need to clear this rather than dragging the issue in the interest of Democracy beyond doubt. Fair Voting practices are needed which cannot be denied. In our democracy, voting and counting and a Trail are very important.
I have absolutely no doubt that these corrupt criminal Politicians specially Congress, were very well aware about it, when they brought Navin Chawala as EC. With Chawala in EC, all manipulations and software bugging introduced, which made Sonia leader of India and croocks ruler of India. BYCOT this EVM for future. Some able lawyers of India, please file a suit in Supreme court to ban use of EVM in all future ELECTIONS. Political parties shouls also take initiative and arrange for TOTAL BAN ON EVM. IT DO NOT GIVE POPULAR VERDICT.
One can do lot of golmol with EVMs. That is why Indian politicians are not willing to do away with EVMs. In the last election when I voted, I could see , the voting officer was fidgetting with some switches under his table, but I was not whatr he was doing exactly
