NO! It is NOT possible to tamper the EVMs in the election process. Even if it's done in a few, escaping the fool-proof system, it can be easily found out in the lab, thus making the tampering ineffective. Thus, the integrity of the EVM based electoral process is intact.

Hold on! I have no axe to grind! I am not a right-wing sympathizer. I am an IAS officer with around 15 years’ experience, and have dealt with EVMs and elections may times over. I have also worked three times as Election observer. Personally, I would rather consider myself as a Liberal Ambedkarite.

Now, please read on:

At the outset, let’s understand the difference between a malfunction and Tampering. When malfunction is a random error of a machine that does not give any advantage to anybody, a tamper is an intentional human intervention with an intention to help somebody (candidate). We are here going to talk about this 'intentional tampering', and not about malfunctions!

To start with, if I have to make a claim that EVMs are tamper proof, then I need to respond the counter-claims in the public domain, that EVMs can indeed be tampered. Let’s take the top 3 of such claims:

1. https://indiaevm.org/evm_tr2010.pdf (By the famous trio: Hari K. Prasad∗ J. Alex Halderman† Rop Gonggrijp) This is by far the detailed analysis of the EVM and the issues. But, they have not explained how one can get the EVM from the election process. Thus, it fails there itself.

2. https://medium.com/@De…/how-i-would-hack-an-evm-d577ebf38011 (VijayVithal Jagirdhar). Detailed analysis, but again failed to show how an EVM can be captured.

3. http://amaldev.blog/hacking-indian-evms/. Detailed study. But same issue of securing the EVM for tampering.

Thus all of them agree that securing an EVM, for tampering is difficult. Secondly, none of them claim, that they can tamper EVM without being found out, when tested.

Let's briefly understand how the EVM works. The EVM is a very simple machine, like a calculator. The machine has 2 units, and both are connected by a 5-meter cable. The first unit is called as Ballot unit, and this is what you see when you vote. It has names of all candidates, and buttons to press against. This unit is connected to the second unit, which is called as Control unit. The control unit has the memory and the votes polled reside here. The memory resides in chip, that is programmed by 'burning' it. That is one-time program. And the chip cannot communicate with any other device remotely. It does not have wireless/Bluetooth capability.

Election results can be manipulated ONLY in three ways:

1. Tamper the ballot unit switches, so that all votes go to one candidate.
2. Tamper the memory chip, so that votes polled can be changed.
3. Tamper the display unit, so that wrong display of result comes.

To do any of these, one needs to do the following two steps: First: Change the chip, or the entire board inside. Add any device to the existing board, that has been coded to tamper, or that can tamper on command from wireless/Bluetooth. Two: Ensure that the tampering is not traceable. If traceable, what is the fun in tampering!

While the first step theoretically possible, the second is not even theoretically possible!

Securing an EVM, and able to open it, is the first step that is required to tamper the EVM. And here is where, the genius of the ECI comes. The ECI has put in such processes that ensure no EVM can be removed from the election process. The ECI has made, five strong steps that ensure 100% protection of the EVMs.

They are:

1. EVMs are cleared of past memory, and they are brought to one place, in the district, under the Collector, tested for proper working, and randomly allotted to constituencies inside the district (1st level randomization). This is where the action starts. Any tampering or mischief during the making of chip is of no use, as it will be found out here, and the EVM will not be included in the election process at all.

2. Its prepared for the constituency, before the candidates and agents, and the candidate can check it any number of times. Mock votes are polled and checked. In case of doubt, even all 1500 votes are also polled and checked. Then the 2nd time randomization happens, and individual EVMs are allotted to the polling booths, and locked and kept in the secure room, guarded 24x7, with CCTV s. The EVM mechanism is sealed.

3. Even the polling officers are also randomly allotted just 24 hours before the polling date. Four officials, drawn from different parts of the district, are put together to one polling booth. They pick up the EVMs only 24 hours before. And keep with them till they return it back the next day evening.

4. On reaching the polling booth, they check the seals and see if it works properly. There are multiple seals. The EVM is guarded, 24x7.

5. On the day of the poll, a mock poll is conducted, and it is ascertained that the votes are recorded properly. They again seal it before the candidates.

All these five steps are conducted in a transparent manner, in front of the candidates/agents, and video-graphed. These 5 steps, along with 24x7 security, ensures that, nobody can steal an EVM.

The following small calculation proves that! We have appx 84 crore voters in India. One EVM caters to 1500 voters. So, we need 5.6 lakh EVMs per every election. We have conducted 3 elections with EVM. Thus, we have used EVMs around, 5.6 x 3 = 16. 8 times. To this we need to add the state level elections. Safely we can assume more than 20 lakh times EVMs were used.

In this 20 lakh times, is there even one evidence of tampering? One place where anybody found the mechanism tampered and proved in the lab? NONE! Nobody has stopped anybody from approaching the court to test a particular EVM. If tested in lab it’s very easy to find out if it has been tampered. It is 100% impossible to tamper and not get detected in the lab. Still, we have no evidence of any tampering!

Thus the integrity of the election is not compromised anywhere in EVM based polling. It rests on two clear facts. One: The EVMs can't be secured to tamper them. Two: Even in tampered, it can be easily found out in the lab.

So, seeing from any angle, the tampering theory does not make any sense. Still, if anybody thinks that EVMs in the election are tampered, then the onus is on them to prove it. Unless that is done, it is not fair on their part to say that EVMs are tampered in the election. If they do, it would be either due ignorance, or any other reason.

If one wants to go back to ballot system, with improvements like CCTV etc., or any other new system, please ask for it. But, not on the ground that EVMs can be tampered! Let's understand that asking for EVM-free polling, is different from alleging that EVMs can be tampered. We should not make allegations on a constitutional process, without strong evidence. Otherwise, there is no end to this, and we will be undermining our Institutions, that ultimately will lead to chaos.

Original post: https://www.facebook.com/manivannan.ias.7/posts/1988262694727519