Elon Musk Raises Concerns About EVMs Before US Elections

Elon Musk Once Again Sparks Debate Over Electronic Voting Machines Ahead of US Elections

San Francisco, July 9 (IANS) – Tech magnate Elon Musk has once again caused a stir in the tech world by bringing up the controversial topic of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the run-up to the US presidential elections in November. This time, Musk advocated for the use of paper ballots and in-person voting mechanisms as the preferred method for ensuring election security.

Taking to his favorite social media platform, X, Musk expressed his concerns about the risks associated with EVMs and mail-in ballots. “EVMs and anything mailed in is too risky,” he boldly stated. “We should mandate paper ballots and in-person voting only,” Musk added, sharing news stories highlighting the vulnerabilities of EVMs.

However, Musk’s stance did not sit well with all X users, with some arguing in favor of the security measures built into electronic voting machines. One user pointed out that paper ballots could also be susceptible to manipulation through booth capturing, while EVMs with embedded programs are more secure and harder to hack.

This is not the first time Musk has waded into the EVM debate. In a previous post, he criticized the combined use of mail-in and in-person voting, claiming that the system was designed to prevent the detection of fraud. Musk suggested that surveillance cameras at polling stations could help deter fraud by monitoring the number of voters compared to the number of ballots cast.

The Tesla CEO’s comments have sparked a heated exchange with former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who defended the security measures of Indian EVMs. Chandrasekhar emphasized that Indian EVMs are custom-designed, secure, and isolated from external networks, to which Musk controversially replied, “Anything can be hacked.”

As the debate over EVMs continues to gain momentum, Shiv Sena MP and former Union Minister Milind Deora cautioned against the interference of Silicon Valley’s tech billionaires in India’s democratic processes. The controversy surrounding Musk’s statements highlights the ongoing challenges and concerns surrounding election security in the digital age.

With the US presidential elections drawing closer, the debate over the use of electronic voting machines versus traditional paper ballots is likely to intensify, with stakeholders on both sides rallying to make their voices heard.

– IANS