Claims:1. A Faithful Electronic Voting Machines (FEVM) comprising of:
a. an electronic voting machine (EVM) through which votes are cast during an election;
b. an Mechatronic Testing Units (MTU) which provides confirmation about the cast votes and vote counting; and
c. an isolated software program to achieve display of vote selection and vote counting;
wherein, the MTUs can be attached to the electronic voting machines to confirm the voter and the participant that the cast vote is counted to the same candidate’s result.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the Mechatronics Testing Units (MTU) in the said device are mechanically fixed with the EVM system.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the testing of the EVM system with the MTU can be performed at any time and under any number conditions and circumstances, where the results obtained are complete accurate.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said device uses an isolated software program to achieve public or private display of vote counting as well as vote selection which can benefit both the candidates contesting elections and the voters to ensure the vote selection and to confirm the counting of their vote.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the EVM and MTU units can be used to achieve different models where MTU can be wither inbuilt, externally fixed, and either removable or extendable; either paperless or with paper trail; either attached to Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine or verifiable paper record (VPR).
6. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said device enables the voters and election contesting candidates to verify the vote selection of the voters as well as for verification of vote counting.
, Description:Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voting method and system, and, in particular, to a voting method and system where the voter can verify the voting selection and vote counting.
Background of the Invention
An electronic voting machine (EVM) is a machine which is currently being used to register and tabulate votes. The first voting machines were mechanical which was time consuming as well as a hectic process when it comes to counting votes. With the ease of use and verifiable feature, the EVMs have become more common as well as increasingly popular.
EVMs are highly reliable as they cannot be hacked in order to manipulate the votes for the favour of one party during the time of elections. Also with the help of the EVMs, the voting process has become more efficient as well as lot of trees are saved, which were supposed to make papers to be used in ballot system of voting.
Though EVMs are highly reliable, there are several problems and limitations which are associated with them, which can include
a. Through the EVM software, is it possible to modify the total vote count of different candidates and
b. Every voter doesn’t know if their valuable vote is really counted in their selected candidate’s total votes.
But there are no ways possible in which a voter can verify these. Though with the help of VVPAT machine, the voter can verify their vote selection, but there are no ways where the voter can verify whether their vote is really counted or not.
A prior art patent US patent application 7635088B2 by Avante International Tech Inc, discloses an electronic voting method and system employing a printed machine readable ballot. A method and system for marking a ballot or sheet may comprise making selections in a session using an interface, e.g., including a keyboard, a touch screen, a button, a switch, voice recognition apparatus, a Braille keyboard, a pen with writing recognition interface, or a combination thereof, producing a paper ballot or sheet for the session by printing the selections on a sheet form or printing a sheet form including the selections, and optionally submitting the printed paper ballot or sheet for reading the selections printed thereon. The printed ballot or sheet may include an identifier for the selected template. This patent application allows the voters to verify their vote selections.
US patent application 6769613B2 by Provitola Anthony I disclose an auto-verifying voting system and voting method which provides for a computer-prepared and computer-printed election ballot generated by input from the voter, and provides for auto-verification whereby the voter has the opportunity and the responsibility to inspect the computer-printed ballot with his or her votes. The voting system also provides for correction of the votes of the voter in the computer station and correction of the votes of the voter shown on the printed ballot if such votes are not shown on the printed ballot as intended by the voter. Ultimately, the voter is presented with a printed ballot prepared by the voting station and its connected printer which accurately presents the votes of the voter for submission by the voter for final tabulation. This patent application allows the voters to auto-verify their votes and inspect the computer printed ballot with their votes.
Though the prior art patents discloses methods to verify the vote selections of the voters, there are no systems and related methods through which they can inspect the EVM software.
Every candidate has right to check EVM software. But it is not possible due to several reasons including:
a. Limited knowledge about the EVM software; and
b. No knowledge about the software testing methods.
Therefore, there is a need for an advanced Faithful EVM function testing units which can provide justice to the candidates and the voters as well.
Objects of the Invention
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a faithful EVM which can help the candidates as well as voters to verify whether their vote is counted or not.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a faithful EVM which can have an externally coupled Mechatronic Testing Unit (MTU) along with the existing EVM.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a faithful EVM where the MTU can be electronically and mechanically coupled with the EVMs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a faithful EVM which can restore faith in the voters and the candidates who can make sure their vote is counted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a faithful EVM which can be built with different specifications based on the requirement.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention discloses the Faithful Electronic Voting Machines (FEVM) with the Mechatronic Testing Units (MTU), which is developed to overcome all the challenges associated with the existing electronic voting machines.
According to the present invention, the FEVM can be attached with the Mechatronics Testing Units (MTU) which can be coupled mechanically with each other. The EVM system testing with the MTU can be performed at any time and under any number conditions and circumstances.
According to the present invention, the construction of the FEVM can be achieved in different ways. The present invention discloses different models and methods to solve the issues which are present with the EVM. The EVMs can be attached with the Mechatronics Testing Units (MTU) in various ways which can include mechanical coupling, electrical coupling and so forth. The system uses an isolated software program to achieve public or private display of vote counting as well as vote selection which can benefit both the candidates contesting elections and the voters so that they can be sure about the vote selected by them and also to see that their vote is counted.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The present invention discloses the Faithful Electronic Voting Machines (FEVM) with the Mechatronic Testing Units (MTU), which is developed to overcome all the challenges associated with the existing electronic voting machines. Faithfull EVM system is developed to address real challenges faced by every candidate and voters to provide them with justice.
According to the present invention, the FEVM with MTU can be used by the election commission considering the fact that the Indian constitution upholds the voter privacy policy, safe, avoiding any voting time impact to follow the result declaration process for election commission of India.
Mechatronics Testing Units (MTU) is mechanically fixed with the EVM system. The EVM system testing with the MTU can be performed at any time and under any number conditions and circumstances. The results obtained are complete accuracy with utmost satisfaction for the candidates as well as the voters. As the software which is used with the FEVM can operate without malfunctioning, the Faithful Electronic Voting Machine can be trusted completely to provide accurate results. Any person or a party representative can check the faithfulness of EVM and can also check for performance, hardware and software test, at any point of time.
The present invention discloses the FEVM with MTU Specifications which are described as follows:
a. MTU mounting with the EVM can be inbuilt fixed or externally fixed or separately fixed but removable or extendable.
b. FEVM with MTU can provide every candidate his/her total voting counts separately either in open or closed environment.
c. FEVM with MTU can provide results in both test mode and run mode.
d. FEVM with MTU can be either paperless or with paper trail.
e. FEVM can be attached with EVM or Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine or verifiable paper record (VPR).
According to the present invention, the construction of the FEVM can be achieved in different ways. The present invention discloses different models and methods to solve the issues which are present with the EVM.
Model 1: In this FEVM model, the EVM and the MTU unit are mechanically coupled with each other where the MTU is inbuilt, fixed. With the help of this model, every candidate who is fighting the election can use the device in order to view separate voting display, count or graphic display. The candidates can use this model of FEVM to verify the voting selection and also counting of the votes.
Model 2: In this FEVM model, the EVM and the MTU unit are mechanically and electrically coupled with each other, where the MTU is externally fixed. With the help of this model, the candidate who is contesting the election can view and confirm the voting data through a separate voting graphic display. The software used with this model is completely isolated.
Model 3: In this FEVM model, the EVM can be coupled with the software and hardware mechatronics where the MTU is fixed (removable). With the help of this model, every candidate can access the device separately and the MTU is used for the purpose of testing where the candidate can view and confirm the voting data which is displayed as a separate voting graphic display. The software used in this model is completely isolated.
Model 4: In this FEVM model, each candidate is provided an extendable separate graphic display which displays the vote selection and vote count and the software used with this model is completely isolated.
Model 5: In this FEVM model, a single graphic digital display is provided which shows the vote counts of all the candidates contesting elections on a single display. With the help of this model, the election commission can save the time consumed in counting and verification as the vote counting and verification can be completed in less time.
With the help of the present invention, both the voters and the candidates who are contesting elections can use the FEVM to verify the vote selection of the voters as well as for verification of vote counting, where the issues which are faced with the EVMs can be effectively solved. The issues which are raised with the EVMs usually include non-tally of the votes with the VVPAT paper trail, where the votes which are counted are alleged that they do not match with the paper trail. With the help of the FEVM, this issue can be addressed to provide accurate results on the spot.