Controversial allegations by Syed Shuja about the tampering of EVMs in General Election (2014) have revived the debate about the credibility of EVMs and the possibility of political manipulation.
The New Leam Staff
A man named Syed Shuja has made controversial allegations of EVM tampering in the 2014 General Elections, bringing to light once again the debate over the viability of using electronic voting machines and the possibilities of manipulation.
Syed Shuja is a Cyber expert of Indian origin and is seeking political asylum in US and he claimed that the 2014 General Elections were rigged through EVMs. He claimed that many of his team members were killed and therefore he decided to leave the country after he felt threatened for life. He claimed that he was part of a team that designed EVMs for the 2014 elections. He also alleged that his team had been instructed to find out how the EVMs could be hacked. He also made other allegations against the Centre saying that Union Minister Gopinath Munde was “Killed” because he was aware of the hacking of the EVMs. Munde died in a road accident post elections in 2014. The shocking revelations made by the techie is sure to bring controversy before the upcoming General Elections but what will remain to be observed is whether any substantial evidence surfaces in the matter. However, it cannot be negated that time and again there has been rise in public disillusionment over EVMs despite the consolation of the EC.
The debate about whether nation-states should use paper ballots or EVM machines has been going on for quite some time across the world as the pros and cons of these voting technologies have come to the forefront. While there are some countries in the world, who have decided to continue with paper ballots after years of using EVMs, there are many countries in the world that have showed an increased interest in opting for electronic voting technologies. If one were to look at the debate in the context of India, one would observe that the discussion seems to have come a full circle where EVMs manufactured in 1990 were for the first time used in the elections of November 1998.
This was done on the level of experiments when in 16 assembly constituencies in states like MP, Rajasthan and Delhi were used. It was then that the nation agreed that the usage of EVMs would be the most appropriate decision. It was in the year 2004 that the Lok Sabha elections were conducted through the usage of EVMs on a large scale. It was just a couple of months ago that major Opposition parties had alleged that the EVMs were tampered with before the polls and that reintroduction of the paper ballot would be a better idea. In 2009, the BJP had alleged that the Congress which was doing particularly well in the elections at this time was allegedly involved in EVM tampering and demanded a return of the paper ballot mechanism.
Ensuring Credibility: VVPAT Technologies in EVMs
The Election Commission has then rejected the claim and said that EVMs were credible and tampering proof. The reliability of the EVM came under public doubt yet again in November, 2018 when during the Uttar Pradesh Civic Polls many reports showed that several of the voting machines that were being used were recording votes in the favour of BJP, irrespective of the button being pressed. It must also be acknowledged that irrespective of the allegations and suspicions that have been raised about the EVMs, the Election Commission has left no stone unturned in defending the EVMs. It was in 2010, that with the help of technical experts who worked on EVMs, it introduced the voter-verifiable paper audit trial (VVPAT) to address issues about transparency.
This would ensure that the voter gets a paper slip bearing the name of the candidate and the party symbol for which the vote has been cast. This would make sure that the voter feels convinced that the vote has actually been recorded for the party it was intended for. This method has been used in Nagaland by-election (2013) and assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh (2017). It was in June 2014, that the EC ordered that VVPAT system should be installed at every polling station for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Conflicts on Both Sides: EVMs or Paper Ballots
It cannot be negated that India has the second largest population in the world and this means that it also has the largest voting population that votes through the usage of EVMs. It has to be understood that the implementation of voting through EVMs has allowed us to save both paper and manpower. Many technical experts emphasise that given its immediate good feedback, it would be an incorrect initiative to move back to the paper ballot mechanism. But those who are more critical of the EVMs suggest that it would be an exaggerated view to say that EVMs are totally tampering proof.
Technical experts say that like all electronic devices, hackers can get access to EVMs too through remote devices and thus its manipulation is quite possible. It has been said before, that ever since EVMs have been brought to greater use, booth capturing has been reduced but what we must acknowledge is the fact that this should not be credited to the usage of the EVMs. As voters become more aware of the critical relevance of casting their votes and because of the easy access to mobile phones, booth capturing cannot remain without being reported for a long time.
Moreover, tampering with a machine is equal to booth capturing and this does not even need people to bring muscle power to the use as it is invisible. This brings us towards the end of a layered debate that surely does not have any ready made and full-proof answers but what it also reminds us is that from time to time, doubts have been raised about the credibility of EVMs. While it does seem impossible for us to revert back to the paper ballot in the contemporary times, what seems like a workable solution is to install VVPAT technologies in all EVMs. This would not only reinstall the confidence of the public but would also ensure that democracy is not compromised.
