Hold ethical hackathon to clear doubts over EVMs: IT minister

Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge has requested the Election Commission of India to hold an ethical hackathon on electronic voting machines (EVMs) to dispel doubts that they can be tampered with.

Kharge has said Karnataka is ready to host the hackathon if the ECI is willing. He has also tweeted his opinion in this regard.

The minister, who is busy in campaigning for the Assembly bypolls, said on Tuesday, “I will be writing to Chief Election Commissioner after April 9. As technology minister, I have faith in technology. I am not doubting the technology employed for operating EVMs. But it is the responsibility of the government to dispel apprehensions about the machines. If they are faulty, then the same could be rectified.”

The Congress party at Delhi level has asked the ECI to introspect and consider using ballot papers in future elections. The demand came up after a faulty voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine used in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, came to light. The machine dispensed slips with the BJP’s poll symbol.

This has made the Congress and Aam Admi Party to demand the ECI to probe the ‘tampering’ of the EVMs.