Reacting to Elon Musk’s remarks on electronic voting machines (EVMs) was former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Musk had voiced worries that artificial intelligence or people would be able to hack EVMs. Musk would get a lesson on the subject from Chandrasekhar.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Chandrasekhar responded strongly to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s statement that EVMs would be phased out. It is possible to make safe digital devices, he said. Musk had started a talk over the security of EVMs by arguing that their vulnerability to hacking made them unusable.
Concerns over problems with EVMs in recent Puerto Rican elections had been voiced by American politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Musk replied, “We ought to get rid of electronic voting devices. Even though it is rare, there is still a very high chance of being hacked by AI or humans.” Former Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Chandrasekhar called Musk’s statement “a very broad generalization” that ignores the potential for safe digital device development. It is false to state that safe digital devices cannot be created, wrote Chandrasekhar.
Chandrasekhar also promised to teach how to properly plan and build safe electronic voting devices. “Electronic voting machines can be created and designed correctly, as India has done. You are welcome to have a lesson, Elon.
Kennedy, an independent candidate for president of the United States, stressed the need of paper trails for spotting and fixing “hundreds of voting problems” by citing an Associated Press story. He said, “Thank goodness there was a paper trail, as the problem was found and the vote total was adjusted. In places without paper trails, what happens? According to him, American voters should be aware that their elections cannot be manipulated and that every vote is counted. To prevent electronic meddling with elections, paper ballots must be used again.