Examine the role of technology in elections

Call for evidence about risks and benefits of introducing blockchain in India's electoral systems

Ashim Jain

@4world

A Bird's Eye View of Democracy

Submitted Jun 1, 2021

Exciting to know that you all are so caring for India that you are devoting so much time and resources!

Granted-- the proper functioning of the electoral system in any democracy cannot be overemphasized. However, compared to plugging minor holes in the current voting systems by adoption of blockchain tech, there are far more important areas demanding attention of those who deeply care. Let me elaborate --

INEPT CANDIDATES / LEADERS
Today, nearly the entire electorate is being misled, election after election by corrupt and even criminal politicians – falsehoods, bribed votes, etc. Also, those in power do not want to bring in progressive legislation like Right to Recall, independence of the police/CBI, accountability of public servants, increasing spending on education and health, removing the 100’s of colonial laws still in force (the CrPC, CPC, admin structures, ...), etc.

DISINCLINED VOTERS
Examine the electorate statistically to get a better picture:

Perhaps 95% of them are into daily struggles for a livelihood and do not read even the newspaper. According to World Bank 2020 report, just the unorganized labor force is about 47 crores (the rickshaw / taxi drivers, farm laborers, sabzi walas, brick/construction laborers, etc.)

The upper middle class (~ 5%, the govt. employees, higher paid private sector, small businesses, ...) are generally self-centered, weak-voiced (on political issues), uninterested about larger social issues, etc.

What significant difference would a blockchain election system bring in such a scenario except make it convenient for those with internet access, a smartphone and most importantly the will to vote (how many such are there any ways)?

Those additional people who vote due to electronic voting might still not even know their candidates’ backgrounds, let alone question them on their past performance or future agendas! (Newton, 2017 gives a realistic idea of India’s democracy. Consider what good might blockchain do in the depicted scenarios.)

Considering your passion for positive change, you may wish to take a fresh look at the overall aim of your project. Is it simply an academic exercise that might get implemented yet bring no real benefit in the overall picture? If so, please disregard my post and carry on.

India’s overall condition is dire and the virus has brought it to a state of collapse. Before she crumbles beyond a point of no return, serious intervention is needed by those who can devote time and resources.

SUGGESTION
You all are beautiful, well-meaning people who want to help but appear to be from academic backgrounds. Consider joining hands with serious, experienced and smart social activists, and then, first conceptualize strategic intervention points in our democracy that are possible with technology. And believe me, there is huge scope to positively impact 100’s of millions of people. The right ideas can put India on a fast-path to progress like no other country.

Please remember that you need to find social activists that are critical thinkers, understand the nuts and bolts of the economic system, know ground realities of the masses, and can give you workable theories that lack only technology for execution.

Best wishes and good luck

P.S. I don’t know your 3 categories: “Evidence submission, Master class and Panel discussion” so I just marked the first one.

Comments

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  • AJ

    Ashim Jain

    @4world Submitter

    ... the best use of your time is to criticize other people for not doing what you like...

    Kiran, Would you not try to advise a fellow-traveler (a comrade) who appears misguided? (That's what I did too. And it's not criticism -- when I'm giving you examples/reasons, it is critique. Compare my messages to your dismissive one-liners each time (except after the above message.)

    If you have such low tolerance for dissent, why do you invite public critique?

    ... what can we expect in 2024 when these technologies are introduced into the next general elections? What form of power grab will hide under popular faith that the technology is sound?

    My messages have been misunderstood. Let me try again--

    Paper ballots, EVMs, blockchain or whatever -- Plugging some leaks in voting (say 10% fraud) one day in five years (1826 days) will make a nanoscopic difference in democracy or the way the country is being run. For me, real democracy is when the weakest citizens have a say everyday in matters that affect their lives. Okay, leave aside everything above -- at present, the very foundations of democracy -- the right to dissent, protest, association and free expression/speech are being crushed. Looks like you are not aware of how this is happening.

    Each party puts on a facade during election time to solicit votes, but once in power -- they do not care about those who need it the most. Engaging in loot, allowing corporations to loot, propaganda, crime, destruction of democratic institutions... they do whatever is necessary to retain power in forthcoming elections. Congress was only marginally better.

    (Technological challenges are usually solvable sooner or later as tech and our understanding evolves -- that's what I meant when I said there's nothing wrong there.)

    A surgeon works to remove a malignant brain tumor first, not a thorn in a finger. Someone wanting to clean the rivers needs to look at what's causing the pollution, not just remove visible trash. A feminist needs to investigate the fundamental causes of patriarchy and not just reserve some panchayat seats that serve to give remote controls to men. ... and so on.

    I saw you guys on the same path as me so I commented. Praising is easy as it makes everyone happy. Critiquing is sticking your neck out, which takes some courage.

    Sorry this last post even though I said I won't write more.

    Posted 3 years ago
  • Kiran Jonnalagadda

    @jace Editor & Promoter

    Ashim – since it wasn't obvious already – we are critical of technology interventions. As activists and practitioners over the last two decades, we've observed that criticism of technology gets ignored when it isn't technically grounded. This is unfortunate, but is also the reality of tech projects ranging from Bhoomi to Aadhaar to CoWin, all of which have deep social problems.

    Posted 3 years ago
    • AJ

      Ashim Jain

      @4world Submitter

      Kiran, I do understand and agree with the background with which you are against Aadhaar, CoWin, etc. But to be pointblank critical of technology is fanatacism not much different from its other types.

      Due to Twitter, I'm able to get news from deep tribal areas of police attrocities/murders, Internet has enabled billions to educate themselves faster than the school system, smartphones/cameras are allowing vital recordings/evidence of abuse of power, etc. etc.

      The entire monetary system is technology driven and getting more so day by day. Do you know what causes poverty, is credit good or bad, what causes monetary devaluation vis-a-vis int'l currencies, what is wrong with the stock market and what are the fixes, what's good and bad about cryptocurrencies, is int'l trade good or bad, national debt/deficits, etc. etc. (dozens of similar socioeconomic questions)? Without understanding these (which are tech driven), how can one battle economic disparities?

      In a competitive paradigm-- the poor, oppressed, marginalized people have no chance of surviving if they do not use technology as a means of self-defense, learning, countering inflation/poverty, etc.

      This is what I meant by "technological interventions".

      I've been in the social sector for the last 2 decades too but that doesn't mean I know everything or that what I know is right. What is right/wrong can only become somewhat known after deeper analysis/discussions with peers.

      Posted 3 years ago

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