Fw: more on : India announces election dates

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Aditya <aditya () grot org>
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 17:28:51 
To:dave () farber net
Subject: Re: more on : India announces election dates

Dave, for IP if you wish,

> -----Original Message----- From: Steve Cohen <stevecoh1 () comcast net>
> Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 11:50:40 To:dave () farber net Subject: Re: [IP]
> BBC E-mail: India announces election dates
>
> Not a word there about which electronic technologies they are using,
> and how any of the issues that have surfaced here in regard to audit
> trails, etc. are being handled in India.  From the picture shown, it
> appears that they are using some sort of special device, certainly
> not a touch screen.

Given the traditional, widespread prevalence of paper-ballot box
stuffing and bribery of both the (mostly illiterate) electorate and
election officials, electronic voting has been seen as a major step
forward in Indian voting elections.

Ballots in India typically include many, many parties all listed with
not just a name in 2 languages but also the party symbol. The sheer
magnitude of the problem is somewhat described here:

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3493474.stm

unfortunately, many of the same issues that plague voting machines in
the US affect those in India, however those concerns are seen as
secondary. There is comfort taken in the fact that it is a new
technology and unlikely to be bested by the violent thugs who have
hitherto manipulated paper ballot elections. Giving each voter a paper
receipt is seen as expensive _and_ risky, as it might be used to
ensure an intimidated voter follows heavy-handed instructions. The
anonymity of the vote is felt to be the more pressing matter than
potential voting-machine rigging.

There is some not-so-backed-up info about the voting machine at:

  http://www.eci.gov.in

particularly:

  http://www.eci.gov.in/EVM/EVM_2.htm

  http://www.eci.gov.in/EVM/EVM_12.htm ("Can it be tampered with or rigged?")

"it is tamper-proof and error-free" suggests a cursory, hand-waving
reassurance that is likely to wow the less-than-skeptical electorate,
much like the marketing campaigns here.

No doubt it would be a good system/machine to be tested by an
indpendent group, but given the non-transparency of the Govt in
general, it is unlikely that such a test would be carried out without
strong Public-Interest Litigation being mounted in the courts.

I would welcome more information on this subject.

Thanks,
Adi

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