New Delhi:
Concerned that nearly a third of India’s adult population is not voting, India’s Election Commission has invited political parties to a demonstration of a new kind of electronic voting machine (EVM) that could help migrant workers in the country vote remotely in their homes constituency, saving them the hassle of traveling for it.
The EC note lists several legal and technical steps that must be taken before the idea of remote voting can be realized.
At the heart of it all is a Multi-District Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM), which can be programmed to accept votes for up to 72 constituencies, switching based on the person voting.
“The turnout in the 2019 general election was 67.4% and the Election Commission of India is concerned about the issue of over 30 crore voters not exercising their right to vote,” the polling body said in a press release today regarding the move.
“It is clear that there are many reasons why a voter does not choose to register in a new place of residence, thus forgoing the right to vote. Inability to vote due to internal migration (domestic migrants) is one of the main reasons,” it added.
It noted a limitation in getting the exact numbers: there is no central database available for migration within the country.
Migrant workers choose not to register as voters at temporary places of residence for social and other reasons.
But it went through “analysis of available data in the public domain” to conclude that reasons related to employment, marriage and education are driving migration within India. “Out-migration is predominant among the rural population in total inward migration. About 85% of internal migration takes place within states,” it added.
“Following a focus on youth and urban apathy, remote voting will be a transformational initiative for strengthening participation in electoral democracy,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said.
The machine demo is on January 16, when the Technical Expert Committee of the polling station will also be present.
In addition, by January 31, the committee sought written views from all recognized political parties on related issues such as required changes to laws, administrative procedures, and voting methods or technology.
“Based on the feedback received from various stakeholders and the demonstration of the prototype, the Commission will continue the process of implementing the remote voting method appropriately,” it said.
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