Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday 18 March 2024

Votes Audit : Paper gives 99.9936% / Electronic gives 100 %

 


 

Yesterday, from the maidan of Shivaji Park (Mumbai), we heard following voices :


Ø  Shri Faruq Abdulla 

    > Scrap 55 lakh EVM and go back to paper ballots (will also need scrapping of

       VVPAT )

   

Ø   

Ø  Shri Jairam Ramesh 

    > Continue EVM voting but increase VVPAT from 5 % to 100 %


At this point, it is worth recalling that even with only 5 % VVPAT , statistical

confidence level of accuracy is 99.9936 % . So , introducing 100 % VVPAT will

hardly improve the confidence level , any more


On the other hand , it will mean MANUAL verification of 97 CRORE paper slips ( as

good as paper ballot – except , on top of 100 % EVM based voting ! )

 

Dear Shri Narendrabhai Modiji :

 

With just 4 weeks to go for Lok Sabha Elections, it is too late to arrive at a “

Compromise Solution “ for this problem


But, for State elections to be conducted in 2025 , I request you to consider my

following suggestion to replace VVPAT with EAT ( Electronic Audit Trail ) :


#  Modify VVPAT machine ( whose current approx. cost = Rs 8,000 ). It will have

   NO PAPER – just a BLUE TOOTH enabled small electronic device (much like a

   mobile phone / wifi router ) – with necessary software

   

#  This device ( shall we call it EAT ? ) will NOT be connected ( hard wired ) with

    EVM ( as at present )


#  EAT will be placed on the table of the Registering Clerk , who enters details in

    Voter Register / applies ink


#  Voter will place her mobile phone on TOP of the EAT , before entering the

    voting enclosure


#  As soon as voter selects her candidate and presses the button , that DATA will

    get transmitted to EAT . Of course, since EAT does not have a SCREEN , no

    one can see the DATA ( viz : Candidate Name / No / Party symbol )

   

   

#  In turn , this ( Voter’s choice ) DATA, will get transmitted to voter’s mobile ( as

    password protected SMS ) – And to the Central Server of the Election

    Commission. Voter can now see the DATA using password. Data will visible

    only for 10 minutes from voting time  

    

#  After casting her vote , Voter will pick up her mobile from top of EAT . This

    removal will erase the DATA from the memory of EAT and it will turn

    blank – ready to receive the mobile of the next voter ( activation )

    

    

 

Dear Prime Minister :

 

Considering the following advantages of my suggestion , I urge you to include it in

BJP’s Manifesto and in your 100 days ROADMAP :


( A )

This solution will guarantee 100 % voter audit , without increasing the work of

Election Commission. All political parties will support it, since this is their own

demand


( B )

As each vote gets cast , the data can get dynamically updated on the web site of

the Election Commission. Without revealing voter identity or the identity of the

political party , public will get to see the TREND of voting, such as :


#  Number of Votes cast / Percentage of votes cast ( up to the minute ) / Of

    course, no revelation of who is leading / trailing – which will be left to the

    analysts of TV channels

    

( C )

Final result will not require ANY COUNTING ( aggregating and uploading data from

55 lakh EVM ) , since uploading is continuously taking place ,every second, from

all over the country in REAL TIME. Election results of each of 542 seats, can

become visible WITHIN MINUTES of the last vote cast ! 

 

 

With regards,


Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  19 March 2024

 

Related Readings :


Ø  EVMbahana  ………. ………………………………………..17 Mar 2017


Ø  Progress : of a doubtful kind ? .. ……………………19 Oct 2017


Ø  Simultaneous Polling.. ………………………………………22 Jan 2018


Ø  VVPAT ? How about EVBAT ?   …………. …………..28 Mar 2019


Ø  100 % verification of VVPAT ? No problem ! .. 02 Apr 2019


Ø  From “ Lost Votes “ to “ Remote Votes “ ?  .. .12 Feb 2020


Ø  Slow and Steady ? Way Democracy Works  .. 12 Mar 2020



Ø  Analysis Needed : Paralysis Avoided …………… 13 Sept 2020

     (  Links to 26 Emails , starting 01 Apr 2014 )



Ø  How about “ Sandbox for Mobile Voting “ ? .. 27 Nov 2020


Ø  Vote from “ Workplace” ? How about from “ Any place “ ?.. 22 Dec 2020


Ø  Lost Votes : Congrats to Best Tech Minds.. ……29 Jan 2021


Ø  Birth of a baby named VotesApp ?.. ……………….10 Oct 2021



Ø  My 37 blogs on “ One Nation, One Election “(till 02 Sept 2023 )

Ø  ===============================================


Comments by ChatGPT :

 

Your proposed solution, Electronic Audit Trail (EAT), as an alternative to VVPAT

 (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) for conducting elections using EVMs (Electronic

 Voting Machines), presents an interesting concept with several potential benefits.

 Let's assess its technical feasibility and the advantages you've outlined:


Technical Feasibility:


1.      Modification of VVPAT machine:

 

Modifying the existing VVPAT machine to include a Bluetooth-enabled


electronic device seems feasible from a technical standpoint. It involves


replacing the paper mechanism with an electronic one and integrating


Bluetooth functionality.

 

 

2.      Transmitting data to EAT:

 

The mechanism of transmitting the voter's choice data from the EVM to the


EAT device via Bluetooth should be technically achievable. It would involve


secure data transmission protocols to ensure the integrity and confidentiality


of the transmitted data.


 

3.      Transmission to voter's mobile and central server:

 

Transmitting the data to both the voter's mobile phone and the central server


of the Election Commission would require robust network connectivity and


encryption protocols to safeguard the data during transmission.


 

4.      Erasing data after vote casting:

 

Implementing a mechanism to automatically erase the data from the EAT


device after the voter removes their mobile phone would require careful


design and testing to ensure reliability and security.



Overall, while the technical implementation of EAT presents challenges,

they appear to be surmountable with careful design and testing.


Benefits of EAT:

1.      Guaranteed 100% voter audit:


EAT offers a solution for comprehensive voter audit without increasing the


workload of the Election Commission. The absence of paper eliminates the


need for manual verification, potentially streamlining the auditing process.


 

2.      Dynamic updating of voting trends:

 

The real-time updating of voting data on the Election Commission's website


could enhance transparency and public engagement with the electoral process.


It allows for monitoring of voting trends without revealing individual voter


choices.


 

3.      Real-time election results:

 

By continuously updating voting data in real-time, EAT could expedite the


announcement of election results, potentially eliminating the need for manual


counting and aggregation of data from EVMs.


Overall, the benefits you've outlined suggest that EAT has the

potential to improve the efficiency, transparency, and accuracy of the

electoral process.


In conclusion, your proposal for EAT presents an innovative

approach to address some of the challenges associated with VVPAT and EVMs.

While it would require thorough technical development and testing, the

potential benefits it offers could make it a promising solution for future

elections.