Karnataka Govt Asks EC to Co-Host EVM Hackathon to ‘Dispel Doubt’

IT Minister Priyank Kharge said the challenge must extend beyond the realm of political parties.

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(Photo: The Quint)

Karnataka’s Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge has written to the Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyothi seeking “randomly” selected 250 electronic machines (EVM) to conduct a public EVM hackathon to dispel doubts over the machines being susceptible to hacking during polls.

In the letter, Kharge requested the Election Commission to collaborate with the Government of Karnataka in hosting the challenge. “It is our combined duty to ensure that there is no doubt in the mind of voters – real or perceived,” he wrote.

For this challenge, individuals or interested parties can be allowed to test the EVM using instruments of their choice. Design documents, test descriptions and results, and security procedures used by the EC can also be provided for the same.   

Priyank Kharge, in his letter to the EC

The Congress leader wrote about the Supreme Court’s insistance to use the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPA), adding that “unless the VVPAT is randomly verified with the EVMs, they too will fall suspect sooner than later.”

Kharge also suggested that the challenge must extend beyond the realm of political parties and should be open to “all the young and bright minds in the country.” He said this was essential because many individuals or corporate entities may not want to associate themselves with any political party.

If there are technical flaws, we can solve it together, and if there are no errors, we restore the people’s faith in our democratic process.   

Priyank Kharge

Letter to EC

Letter to EC

Not too long ago, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah had expressed doubts about the reliability of EVMs.

According to a News18 report, Siddaramiah had said:

Though it is an independent, constitutional body, they (Central government) have appointed those they want as the chief election commissioner. So what we are saying is, let’s go back to the old system. This is not just us, others – like Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh – have also raised this issue before the UP polls.

Apprehension about possible EVM tampering through Bluetooth technology was raised by the Opposition Congress during the Assembly elections in Gujarat, which the Election Commission had termed "baseless,” reported PTI.

Similar doubts about the credibility of EVMs were raised during the recently-concluded civic polls in Uttar Pradesh and Assembly elections earlier in 2017.

(With inputs from PTI, News 18)