EVMs and Elon Musk

Americans are always known for their kneejerk reactions. Even for a small thing, the anti measures they take is enormous. They fear everything, frown at everything created by non Americans, finds flaw with anything made outside the continent. They are in the habit of releasing a software and close on the heels of it, release innumerable bug fixes.

While the most of the countries, if not world over, moved to 240V, they are still in 110. Even third world countries moved to Chip based Cards, but they are the one who moved last. While countries like India adopted digital currency, seamless money transfer, UPI etc, they are still in nascent stage. They preach green initiatives but they are the one who still builds wooden houses, destroying forest cover.

Are EVMs hackable? The answer is YES for sure, and also theoretically. Because any invention by human is destroyable and can be overpowered. They are not invincible. But the Possibility and Probability are the mute factors, that should be considered. 

Is it a better solution than paper ballots? Is it allowing manipulations as done in paper ballots? Is it a system that destroys environment for paper requirements? Does it demand / occupy storage and preservation requirements? Is the system caters to remote areas like hills and forests to enable even the person living remotely to cast his vote? 

In evaluating a system, one should consider the major benefits and not small minor problems. Everything in the world comes with a disclaimer. 

He manufactures EV, but at what cost? The amount of lithium used for batteries is destroying the natural resources. Will he stop manufacturing EV?

Look at the report by Reuters in the first comment. 1.8 million stand alone EVMs located at over 1.7 million booths and collected and kept at around 600 centers. And each constituency has a different numbering order for the candidates. Can they be hacked? Probably Yes. Through a satellite using penetrative methods for collecting the data stored in the EVM, manipulate it and restore manipulated data back in the EVMs. Remember, EVMs do not communicate with outside world even with a device just a millimeter away. So is it possible today? No not today, may be in few years. But we will move to something newer in technology, by that time. Already ECI is looking at block chain technology, I read somewhere.

VVPAT is a sample mechanism to prove EVMs credibility. But dumb wits like Prashant bhushan only can ask for counting all VVPATS and compare with EVMs numbers. Won't be surprised, if he files a suit for comparing all photocopy documents, with the original and even suggest before destroying paper files, to take a photocopy of them.

An election wherein over 640 millions voted and it all started and ended within two months and that too only because of some administrative convenience. Counting started and ended on the same day. The joke is that for a four hour delay, parties are going to Court. 

Look at America. The counting goes on and on for days and weeks. Tons and tons of paper. US Posts is the big load taker.

Mr Musk, you are a technology person. Find out what good you can do, how to improve from what we are, but do not suggest retrograde measures.

Has DMK missed the bus?

 Has DMK missed the bus?

Thinking retrospectively, whether DMK could have played its cards differently and harvested best of both the worlds?

Given the current levels of votes polled, there is a reason for DMK to sulk its decision to contest only 22 seats on its own symbol.

Here is the scenario:

1) DMK well knew that Congress cannot win a single seat in TN on its own. Congress has to ride on either of the dravidian parties shoulders to win any seat.

2) Anyway there was a tacit understanding with AIADMK to go lacklusture by the later, as the primary aim was not to allow BJP  to raise its head.

3) Had Congress joined hand with AIADMK, after parting with DMK, still DMK could have ensured not much vote transfer by ADMK to Congress.

4) Now DMK with only 22 seats stands 4th in the list of opposition parties, Next only to Congress, SP, and TMC. Even if I.N.D.I.Alliance to form Govt, the position from where to bargain is little low.

5) DMK could have easily won 33-35 seats in its own symbol (besides the seats of petty partners) and thus could have made itself the kingmaker or even got coronated itself, had they gone alone.

6) With no prepoll alignment with either BJP or Cong, DMK could have placed itself in a stronger bargainable position with both formations, NDA or I.N.D.I.A.

In my opinion, a leader of the stature of Karunanidhi, would probably have thought like that.

Have they missed the Bus?