The Latest Electronic Voting Machine Invention

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) are the latest invention in electronic voting, and they’re quickly gaining popularity in states across the United States. Though EVMs have been used in India and other countries since the 1990s, their use in US elections has only recently gained traction as more states begin to see the many benefits of this highly secure and accurate voting system. This article will provide you with information on what exactly an EVM is, how it works, why it’s better than traditional paper-based systems, and how your state can benefit from switching to this technology...

• EVM – A Brief Description

The electronic voting machine (EVM) is a device that uses memory cards and magnetic strips to store votes cast by voters. An EVM consists of a control unit, which has a Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU), and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The memory card stores data related to votes polled by a voter. The card can be accessed only by entering a Personal Identification Number (PIN) on any of the dedicated keys of EVM or by inserting an appropriate Memory Card Reader-Writer into any Universal Serial Bus slot. The magnetic strip provides storage for audit trail data generated during voting.

• EVM – A Brief History

An electronic voting machine, or EVM for short, is a device used to cast and count votes. Traditionally EVMs have used proprietary software on proprietary hardware built by private companies with little or no transparency. The voters have no way of confirming that their votes are being correctly recorded and counted. Additionally, in many jurisdictions, there is no requirement for any form of post-election auditing or recounting of ballots.

• EVM – How does it work?

The most popular form of voting machine used is known as a touch screen, or direct-recording electronic (DRE) system. A touchscreen is a computer display monitor that lets voters make their selections by touching marked areas onscreen with a finger or special pen. When you use an ATM, your PIN number and bank card both act as security measures to prevent fraud; however, unlike ATMs, EVMs use secret codes to encrypt data and keep elections secure. In addition to using multiple layers of security software, ballots are printed on the paper stock that’s layered with indelible ink that will mark where a voter has touched.

• EVM - The Challenges of Electronic Voting

Sometimes voting can be challenging and one of those challenges is being able to vote at all. In 2006, in response to past voting problems, Congress passed legislation requiring every polling place to have at least one accessible voting machine for disabled voters. That sounds good on paper, but what exactly does it mean? An accessible machine has a disability-accessible button and a clear audio component. Most of these machines have large print and some allow you to magnify text by pinching two fingers together on the screen. But with these requirements came another challenge – replacing our trusty lever machines with new technology.

• What is a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)?

The VVPAT system works alongside an electronic voting machine, producing a paper record that can be reviewed by voters. This allows them to confirm that their vote was recorded as intended and can detect any attempt at vote tampering. Although it is not foolproof, it does make it much harder for electoral fraud to occur. And with recent allegations of hacking in elections all over the world, many countries are looking at adopting VVPAT systems for future elections. The United States has already introduced legislation requiring all new voting machines to be equipped with VVPAT systems by January 1st, 2018. South Korea also uses a similar system of print-outs when voting on smartphones and other electronic devices; providing further evidence that such a system is suitable for 21st-century elections.

• Can India Really Go Digital?

In 2008, India became one of few countries to allow for paperless elections. Since then, it has tried to promote voting through electronic means. But how secure are e-voting machines? These are a few questions that must be answered before we can move forward with them.

• Challenges to Implementing New Technology in Elections in India

The electronic voting machine (EVM) is a more modern method of voting that has been recently implemented in India. As many as 70 million Indians voted using EVMs during polls held in five states earlier in November 2018. The Election Commission will use an estimated 1.7 million EVMs to hold elections across India on May 12, 2019, according to an Economic Times report. EVMs are designed to provide convenience and efficiency in the conduct of elections and reduce cases of fraud that have been rampant with paper ballots, according to another ET report.