Curb enthusiasm until India model is proven

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo’s effusive praise yesterday for India’s electronic voting process exaggerated its transparency and efficacy. This is no way to begin dialogue on the possible introduction of a similar system. What we need is an honest assessment of alternative systems, warts and all, from which a reasoned choice can be made.

As Kenya marvels over sample voting machines (EVMs), a senior Indian government official is demanding audits of the machines before and after elections to prevent tampering. The leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and others have doubts over machines used in polls three months ago. But as the EVMs have no paper trail and there was a dispute over demonstrations performed at the weekend, the question of a flaw and a possible fix is unanswered.

India’s machines have significant advantages over other electronic systems. They are not networked and are only programmed at manufacture on a chip that is not rewritable. But all this means is they cannot be hacked or tampered after manufacture. However, inaccurate programming can alter results and would be difficult to prove without receipts.

More Information

There is no doubt introducing EVMs can prevent a host of electoral malpractices, but the wrong machines and procedures could mean new weaknesses. Germany scrapped the use of EVMs and a host of western nations refuse to use them or report tampering in versions in use. In such circumstances, we must approach electronic voting choices with more information than enthusiasm.