Yamaraj said:
1. Did the committee have access to source code of EVM software? I don't see any auditing of the firmware deployed.
They do functional testing. Its not that complex a bit of kit now is it. Create truth tables and test for all possibilites. It's really essential you comprehend the last sentence, to grasp the point here.
Here is the pertient info from the report
4.10 EVM could contain the following flaws: Faulty logic, incorrect algorithm, erroneous dataflow, error in circuit design, mistakes in software code, mistake in data base.
(a) The EVM is an embedded system and all functional checks are performed and fully tested before fusing of the software. The fused firmware cannot be read and cannot be reprogrammed at all.
(b) All write operations in memory are followed by read operation verified on spot. The committee has recommended time diversity while writing to the memory devices. All EVMs are tested for all functions prior to election. Number of mock polls can be conducted before start of balloting to ensure on the spot to party representatives that EVM is fairly recording. Any failure including that due to any random noise would be detected and incorrect data entry would be automatically rejected. Only correct data would be recorded. In case any hardware component results in an inoperative condition, it is detected and displayed as ERROR message and taken care of only by either removing the offending condition orreplacing the EVM if need be.
Yamaraj said:
2. In the same Wikipedia link article posted (
Electronic voting examples - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, there have been concerns over tampering of EVMs in the Netherlands as well.
Only relevant if they use the exact same machine of ours. Do they ?
Otherwise the set of problems they face is different.
Yamaraj said:
3. While it's not possible to erase only certain votes with magnetic fields if they are all stored in the same chip without any difference in parity or code sequence, it would be easy to achieve the same if the EVMs were (re)programmed in a way to not record votes associated with certain codes or skip the same while counting.
Thats the point. there is no way to preferentially record (or not) certain party votes as at the manufacturing stage its impossible to know which button corresponds to which party. That gets added in via a slip of paper at voting time.
Remember all the machine does it record if a vote is made or not and is completely oblivious to anything more. It's creators have really adhered to the KISS principle. Fewer chances of tampering with than the machines used abroad.
Yamaraj said:
4. We still don't have sufficient information on the manufacturing process of machines, programming of the chips and the method of counting/recounting of recorded votes.
If the tech links about indian EVMs provided in that blogger's post did not satisy you, i'm not sure anything will.
I think you need to re-read that report. It seems rather comprehensive in terms of testing EVMs. I was rather surprised at the depth & insight poured into ensuring the results are fair.
Yamaraj said:
I'm sure my fellow members will agree that it's easier to manipulate electronic data when compared to hard copies on paper. While EVMs are certainly eco-friendly devices, the need for a verifiable paper-trail is annihilated as a side-effect, which makes it impossible to audit any kind of fraud committed during the process.
Not necessary. Correlate vote count with poll register.
Yamaraj said:
The "everything is fine and dandy; the only truth is what we are told" attitude is against the spirit of the very democratic freedom my fellow members are so hell bent on relinquishing in favor of fanboyism.
According to you the only weak points are
- lack of independent source code audit
Given the simplicity of the operation i don't see why this is a relevant concern.
Yamaraj said:
It's just an inquiry into why all those UPA members like Lalu, Paswan, Mulayam and Leftists fared so bad while Congress managed to score much better than expected. Lalu and Paswan were only giving Congress troubles after troubles with their new-found alliance. Good riddance, right?
i think the answer to that valid question lies much further afield than EVMs
Yamaraj said:
The document says if tampering occurs the machine shuts down. So another machine is required and the presiding election officer should be able to replace defective machines. Maybe they did not have enough spares around but it does not imply in any way that the votes recorded were faulty.
Yamaraj said:
Not relevant for india.
Yamaraj said:
Hold a gun to the booth officers head and sure you will succeed in tampering but at the rate of 5 votes per minute. Would take much longer than the days of pen & paper. So certainly possible in strife hit areas but limited in scope thanks to our EVMs. This was mentioned in my earlier links already.
My question to you : Who is claiming there may be tampering ?
I don't see it coming from any of the concerned, but only 'interested' parties. If there was a valid case it would have been front page news by now.
