TERMS &
CONDITIONS
No change in motherboards allowed; EVMs can’t be taken home to prove at later date
Each group will get 4 hours to hack machines
Challenge could be for 4-5 days, depending on number of participants
Last date for filing applciations is May 26
Foreign experts barred
Hackathon to be held at Nirvachan Sadan, Delhi
TW0-PART
CHALLENGE
First, prove EVMs used in polls were tampered with in same conditions in which machines are kept after elections
Combination of keys on EVMs or over the air communication devices such as cellphone and bluetooth can be used
Second, prove that EVMs used for elections were manipulated before or on polling day
Challenge fails if EVM stops functioning due to inbuilt anti-tampering mechanism
Failure for participant if it shows same poll result even after manipulation
PTI
New Delhi
The challenge to prove that EVMs can be tampered with will start from June 3 in which political parties can use machines deployed in recently held assembly polls, but foreign experts have been barred from participating, the Election Commission announced on Saturday.
The challenge would only be open to national and state parties which contested assembly polls in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab -- and they would not be allowed to change the motherboard of EVMs and take the machines home to prove at a later date that they can be tampered with.
The Commission said with a changed chip, an EVM would no longer be the “ECI-EVM” but a lookalike.
But the participants -- three members per party -- would be allowed to “physically examine” EVMs to check circuits, chips and the motherboard. They will be given four EVMs of their choice from assembly seats of the five states.
Asked whether he would take moral responsibility in case a machine is successfully hacked, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said it would be seen at that moment.
He also said the event should not be seen as a “prestige issue” by anyone.
The challenge would be judged by members of the Technical Expert Committee of the EC mainly to ensure that the rules are followed and the machines are not damaged.
They are independent of the Commission and do not charge anything for their service. Zaidi said the challenge could go on for “roughly” four to five days, depending on the number of participants. May 26 is the last date for applying for the event.
