SECURITY CHALLENGES IN EVM : MITIGATING THE RISK IN DIGITAL DEMOCRACY

ABSTRACT

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) technology have been integrated into India’s voting system, which has improved efficiency and decreased fraud. But issues with openness and meddling still exist. In order to improve security and accuracy, this article examines these issues and discusses solutions such as geo-tagging, electronic pairing, location-based manipulation prevention, and technology advancements. Additionally, it draws attention to improvements such as remote voting machines (RVMs) for inclusive voting and totalizer machines. The essay highlights the strict procedures followed by the Election Commission and calls for ongoing innovation, legal supervision, and voter education in order to preserve the legitimacy and robustness of India’s democratic process in the digital era.

 

INTRODUCTION

Part XV of the constitution of India contains article 324-329 which talks about the election and article 324 which specifically mentions the provision relating to superintendence , direction and control of election to be vested in an Election Commission of India (ECI) . Initially the voting in india were wholly done by paper ballot and was continued till year 1982 but was failure due to booth capturing, high expenses and fraudulent activities . In year 1977 Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) concept was  proposed, and in year 1982 in the  by-election of Paravur assembly constituency in Kerala it was first introduced on the directions issued by ECI under Article 324 of the constitution of India  for the use of EVM . There after suit was filed regarding the power used by ECI for the use of EVM , and then the legislature comes with and amendment in section 61A relating to use of EVM .

From then EVM became the integral part of election and all the elections were done through EVM and from time to time a number of changes were done in EVM  , first change was made in year 2006 , pre 2006 era EVM was known as “ M1EVM’S” . From 2006 to 2010 its “M2evm’s” , and the latest one since 2013 are “M3evms”. And in year 2013 to improve the transparency & verifibiality in poll process  The Conduct of Election Rule 1961 was amended  & notified on  august14, 2013 and a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) was introduced .

 

UNDERSTANDING SECURITY CHALLENGES  IN EVM

Various petition were filed under article 32 from time to time regarding the efficiency , Hacking, tempering of EVM before the supreme court and apex court has made various reforms and examined the witnesses regarding hacking and tempering of the EVM’s so that a true and a fair election is conducted and the person who is the citizen of India having right to adult suffrage  under Article 326 is not infringed and through various cases supreme court has come to the conclusion that EVM cannot be hacked but it can be tempered .

And also stated that the EVM’s used into foreign countries and Indian countries are very different in specifications because the EVM’s used in foreign countries have Bluetooth and WiFi already installed in it because they use the biometric identification test at the time of voting electronically. But there are various allegations which has stated that although the EVM cannot be hacked but it can be tampered .  

TEMPRING PROCESS AND PREVENTIONS 

Transparency is one of the main reason as voters are not able to very their votes because the VVPAT slips are kept in opaque container without physical voter interaction and there can be alteration in the slips that shows the symbol of the political party whom voter votes

1. LOCATION BASED MANIPULATION  – As VVPAT is the weakest link in the EVM and due to its potential to transmit the incorrect votes and its vulnerability to manipulation, there is a proposal of interchanging the position of VVPAT with control unit, and  the VVPAT to be specifically  connected to the ballot unit so that it  simultaneously transmit the voter’s choice to both the control unit and VVPAT. This arrangement will show the VVPAT prints a receipt matching the voter’s intent while the control unit registers the same vote, enhancing accuracy and transparency. 
2. SERIAL CABLE – implementation of  an electronic pairing process between the control unit and the ballot unit using a serial cable just before the commencement of polling. This pairing will secure linking the two components by recording unique identifiers, serial numbers, and timestamps. This will ensure that only the paired units could operate together, preventing unauthorized substitutions or tampering during the election process
3. GEO TAGGING –  A chip containing GPS technology to be installed outside the EVM so that the location is traceable and to prevent any security threat arising out of missing and tampered units .
4. UPGRADATION – As the EVM’s are outdated due to non upgradation after its launch so the necessary technologies are missing due to which it requires a new upgraded machines to prevent from present prevalent technologies.

COUNTER POINTS BY ECI REGARDING EVM

Upon the allegation put forth by the political parties the supreme court demanded the way of circulation of voting machine and the way through which the trial and voting is done and where the voting machines are secured . the election commission of india gave the report regarding the way the machines are circulated and all the processes are done before counting in this the ECI stated that the machines are kept with the manufacturing units and upon announcement of the election dates the machines are distributed at three level by following the process of randomization so it remove the effect of tampering any VM

At first level the machine reaches the district headquarters where elections are to be held & the building in which it is stored is known as the strong room and following persons are present firstly the officials of the ECI, secondly the representatives of the political parties , and a live recording of the machines are being done where the machines are kept , and an arrangement of security forces are done. And here the first level randomization is done and is distributed to different constituencies.

 And after distribution every constituencies have strong room where the matchines are kept and the same persons are present at all the constituencies , here the second level randomization is done and the same is distributed to polling booth and in the presence of every one the trial is been done at the polling booth and tis trial is done in the presence of the presiding offices.

All the records are kept regarding the opening of the starting button of the machine to the closing button , number of votes cast etc. and all the records are being signed by the representatives present there.

After that the machines are kept in the high security and with the similar safety.

 

REFORMS IN THE VOTING COUNTS

1. TOALIZER MACHINE – As the votes casted through EVM are counted on individual booth basis due to which it took too much time and to prevent the harassmet of the voters after results the totalizer concept is used which allows  the votes of 14 booths to be counted together and due to which it prevents the time and post counting harassment of the voters from the leading political parties .
2. REMOTE EVM- ECI has come up with a prototype of Remote Voting Machine (RVM) which is one of the modified version of the EVM and this machine has been developed by the Bharat Electronics Limited in coordination with Election Commission of India . it is also a Standalone Non networked Input Machine so that it protects from any type of manipulation . It will allow the Non Resident Indians to cast their votes for elections in their home state from the state they are currently residing.

CONCLUSION

 VVPAT  and EVMs have become essential components of India’s electoral process, it hs increased the efficiency and decreased cases of traditional ballot-related fraud. Legislative changes and judicial examination are being prompted by ongoing worries about their security and transparency. Despite being mostly unfounded, claims of tampering underscore the necessity of strong protections to boost public trust. Proposals like geo-tagging, electronic pairing with serial cable connections , location-based manipulation prevention, and technology advancements has provided preventive contribution towards tempering . Through permitting Geo tagging  to limit unwanted tampering and upgradation , are the  steps  to improve the integrity of EVMs and VVPATs. Furthermore, the Election Commission of India’s dedication to adjusting to contemporary issues while preserving the devices’ standalone and non-networked security features is demonstrated by the development of instruments like totalizer machines and Remote Voting Machines (RVMs). And the report regarding the ways through which the EVMs are distributed has maintained the assurity and the confidence of the voters into the election process .

 

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WRITTEN BY PRINCE KUMAR