Can EVM Be Hacked? | Electronic Voting Machine | Elon Musk, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Rahul Gandhi

Описание: Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs have long been a hot topic in public discussions, especially around election times. Critics, often political parties, argue that these machines are vulnerable to hacking and could be used for poll rigging. Recently, this debate was once again in focus when Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, questioned EVM security.

Musk suggested that EVMs should be scrapped due to the risk of hacking by humans or AI, even if that risk is minimal. He voiced these concerns while sharing a post by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who highlighted irregularities with EVMs in Puerto Rico and advocated for a return to paper ballots.

Former Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, responded swiftly. He disagreed with Musk, calling his statement a 'huge sweeping generalisation.' Chandrasekhar clarified that while EVMs in some regions might be vulnerable, those used in India are custom-designed, secure, and isolated from any network, making them resistant to hacking.

Musk countered with, "Anything can be hacked," prompting Chandrasekhar to acknowledge that while hacking anything is technically possible, it's a different conversation when it comes to EVMs being secure and reliable compared to paper voting.

The controversy attracted further attention when senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Indian EVMs, calling them 'black boxes', while raising concerns about electoral transparency. Other opposition figures, like Shiv Sena's Aditya Thackeray, also took shots at the government, suggesting possible backlash against Musk’s stance.

The Supreme Court of India has previously refused to mandate the Election Commission of India to manually count voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips, reinforcing the ECI's stance on the security of EVMs due to their administrative safeguards.

So, what exactly are EVMs, and how do they work? An Electronic Voting Machine is a portable device used in various elections, from parliamentary to local body elections. Designed with a microcontroller, EVMs ensure secure voting, allowing only one vote per person and facilitating accurate and efficient vote counting.

An EVM comprises of two main components -

First, balloting unit - This is where voters cast their votes, with buttons aligned horizontally displaying candidate names and party symbols.

Second, control unit - Operated by the polling officer, this unit enables the voting process for each voter and records the votes.

These machines run on 6V alkaline batteries, making them independent of electricity, and can store voting data securely for years.

The big question remains, are EVMs secure and tamper-proof? EVMs incorporate several security features, including encryption and tamper-evident seals, to prevent unauthorized access and tampering. Cybersecurity experts like Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, asserted that numerous attempts to hack EVMs have failed, and there is no evidence to date proving that these machines can be tampered with digitally or otherwise.

The Election Commission had even challenged skeptics, offering opportunities for political parties and cybersecurity professionals to demonstrate any vulnerabilities in EVMs. So far, no one has succeeded.

As the debate continues, it's clear that while concerns about EVM security persist, the safeguards of these machines have stood the test of time, ensuring their crucial role in the democratic process.

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