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.