A State-of-the-Art, User Friendly and Tamper Proof Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)

Presentation by M.Hemanth kumar

Presentation
The Genesis
Concept, Challenge, Solution

Concerns Remedies EVM

Technological Features Description Operation
Polling, Closing, Counting & Results

Advantages Statistics of Interest

Genesis - Concept
Idea mooted by the Chief Election Commissioner in 1977 Pros and cons of E-voting vis--vis ballot paper analysed by High Power Committees Recommended E-voting to save avoidable and recurring expenditure on printing, storage, transportation and security of Ballot Paper to the exchequer
Top: Ballot paper awaiting despatch Bottom: EVMs in store room

Genesis - Challenge
Evolve a machine which would fit into the existing Election Procedure Appear familiar to the voter Addressing the skepticism of the Political Parties and Intelligentsia including Press Evolving a machine and a procedure which would be transparent and acceptable to all
Top: Ballot box being carried to the polling station Bottom: EVMs being carried to the polling station

Genesis - Solution
Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) a leading Public Sector Company engaged in the design and manufacture of professional electronics was commissioned to design a machine to prove the feasibility Once feasibility was established, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) a second Public Sector Company was co-opted into the exercise
Voters waiting to cast their vote

Genesis - Solution
Voting the Ballot box way

Voting the EVM way

Both the companies (ECIL & BEL) brought out models with a common User Interface in 1980 The machines were extensively tried out at locations across the country Publicity campaigns were run in the press and other media Seminars conducted by Election Commission of India in various forums Feedback obtained used to fine-tune the machine

Concerns
How secure is the data ? Can the data be tampered with ? How does the machine operate in remote areas without electric power ? What happens if the power fails in the middle of the voting process ? Can the data be stored long enough to be used as evidence in a court of law in case of electoral disputes ?
Top: EVM being demonstrated to the press Middle: EVM being demonstrated to VIPs Bottom: Address to the press on EVMs

Remedies
All mechanical, electrical and software security features are Counting provided to ensure the integrity Ballot paper way of the voting data It is independent of mains power and operates on a special power pack It is tamper-proof and error free It incorporates a microprocessor that has burnt-in software code which cannot be altered or retrieved All the data is recorded on nonvolatile dual redundant memory chips and can be retained for over 6 months even when the power pack is removed

Counting - EVM way

EVM Technology Features

Centres around state-of-the-art microprocessor with built-in PROM storing the software code which cannot be retrieved or altered Reliable, robust and error free software Legacy software with machine codes used to preserve integrity and security Double redundant resilient memory storage for securely retaining data without a need for a backup battery User friendly operation sequence Portable and easy to operate Custom made to fit into the existing pattern

EVM Technology Features

Provision is made on all the sub-units for sealing to ensure that the units are not tampered with Each EVM can cater to a maximum of 64 candidates with 4 Ballot Units cascaded The EVM can be used for conducting TWO simultaneous polls. EVMs to conduct up to FOUR or MORE simultaneous polls to suit the electoral systems of other countries are developed and demonstration models available

Sub-Units of EVM
Interconnecting Cable

Control Unit

Ballot Unit

Ballot Unit - Details

Ready Lamp Slide Switch Window Candidates Button

Candidates Lamp

Ballot Paper Screen

Ballot Unit - Internal parts

Ready Lamp

Slide Switch Candidates Button

Masking Tab

Control Unit

ON Lamp Display Section

Busy Lamp Candidate Set Section Result Section

Ballot Section Ballot Button Total Button

Control Unit - View of Bottom Compartment

Power Switch Connector for Interconnecting Cable Bottom Compartment Cover Connector for Auxiliary Unit

Control Unit - Display Section

4-Digit Display Panel
ON Lamp

Busy Lamp

2-Digit Display Panel

Control Unit - Candidate Set Section

Candidate set section inner door Candidate set section outer door

Provision for thread seal Latch

Power pack compartment

Candidate set button Plug for power pack Provision for Thread seal

Control Unit - Result Section

Result I button Clear button

Close button

Result II button

Inner latches

Frames for Paper seal

Control Unit - Ballot Section

Total button Ballot button

Polling
The voter is identified from the voters list and records his presence by a signature or thumb impression The Presiding Officer presses the Ballot button on the Control Unit permitting one vote The voter then proceeds to the polling cubicle and after perusing the ballot paper on the Ballot Unit, presses the key against the candidate of his choice

Polling
A red lamp glows indicating to the voter that his vote has been cast in favour of that candidate The casting of the vote results in a beep in the Control Unit indicating to the Presiding Officer that a vote has been cast He then proceeds to release another vote by pressing the Ballot button and the process continues

Closing
The cap on the Close Button is removed and the button pressed The cap is then replaced The unit is then switched Off and the interconnecting cable disconnected

Counting & Results

The Power pack / Battery is checked for health by pressing the TOTAL Button After getting ready to note down the result, the green paper seal over RESULT-1 Button is pierced and RESULT-1 Button is pressed.

Counting & Results

The RESULT-1 button is pressed to display the results The results are then noted.

SEQUENCE OF OPERATION OF BUTTONS ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE

CLEAR

RESULT-1

CAND. SET

CLOSE

BALLOT

Advantages
Modernises the election process User friendly can be used even by illiterates Simple to operate and can be installed in a short time Preserves voting secrecy No scope for invalid votes Facilitates quick and accurate counting possible to declare results instantaneously Re-usable by simply erasing votes recorded in earlier poll

Advantages
Huge expenditure involved in printing, storing and transportation and security of ballot paper can be avoided Lowers operating costs Easier to manage with less demand on manpower Provision can be made to connect to a CENTRAL STATION to consolidate and display / record the results countrywide

Statistics of Interest
Around one million machines deployed during Lok Sabha, 2004 polls Low failure rate Costs around US $ 300 Estimated saving on the switchover to EVM is Approx US $ 40 million Political Parties and Intelligentsia who initially were skeptical now endorse the machine for its veracity
EVM being demonstrated to voters before the recent elections held in the state of Jammu & Kashmir

Thank You