POLL PANEL WORKING ON REMOTE VOTING SYSTEM

Prelims level : Polity and Governance - Election & Electoral Reforms Mains level : GS-II Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
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Why in News?

  • The Election Commission of India has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) to prepare an model of Aadhaar-linked electronic voting system.
  • This new system will enable electors to cast their votes from any part of the country or even from abroad — irrespective of where they are registered to vote in the country.

About the New electronic voting system:

  • Characteristics of the new technology
    • A system for two-way remote votingin controlled environment using blockchain technology.
  • If the technology is approved, will it be implemented automatically?
    • If the project is given the go-ahead by the EC, election laws will have to be changed.
  • Has EC used this kind of voting before?
    • The ECI had used a one-way electronic system for service electors for the first time in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

What is One Way and Two Way Polling?

  • One Way Polling:
    • One-way transmission for service voters involves sending a blank postal ballot electronically to the voter. The ballot paper is downloaded, ballot cast and then sent via normal postal service to the returning officer for counting.
  • Two Way Polling:
  • Two-way electronic transmission of vote envisages that a registered voter from any location in India,  once his identity is well authenticated will be able to cast his vote electronically through a secure encrypted system and the same will reach the designated returning officer for counting.

Significance of the New System:

  • The new system enables migrants to vote from their place of residency, which saves them the time of travelling to their registered constituency and financial costs encountered.
  • This model will help in increased turnout for voting, which reflects true representation of the Elected Candidate.
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