With reference to Remote Voting in India, consider the following state...
The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently said that it was ready to pilot remote voting for domestic migrants through newly devised remote electronic voting machines (RVMs). About:
What is Remote Electronic Voting Machine?
- The new RVM prototype will enable a voter, who is listed in constituencies, to exercise voting rights from a single machine.
- The multi-constituency remote EVM, developed by a public sector undertaking, can handle up to 72 constituencies from a single remote polling booth.
- Migrant voters would not need to travel to their home districts to exercise their franchise if the remote electronic voting machine is implemented properly.
- The remote e-voting machine will be a standalone device which doesn’t need connectivity to operate.
- The Representation of the People Act, The Conduct of Election Rules and The Registration of Electors Rules will need to be amended to introduce remote voting.
How does it work?
- The RVMs will have the same security system and voting experience as the EVM, with the modification of an electronic ballot display with candidates and symbols instead of a fixed ballot paper sheet.
- When the voter scans his/her constituency card in the presence of the Presiding Officer at the station, their respective constituency and candidate list will appear on the RVM display.
- As for counting the votes, the electronic system will also count and store the votes for each candidate in a constituency.
Need:
- As per the 2011 census, 45.36 crore Indians (37% of the population) were internal migrants, settled in a place different from that of their registered residence.
- While 67.4% of the eligible 91.2 crore Indians voted in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, about one-third or close to 30 crore voters did not cast their vote.
- Inability to vote due to internal migration (domestic migrants) is one of the prominent reasons to be addressed to improve voter turnout and ensure participative elections.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
With reference to Remote Voting in India, consider the following state...
Introduction:
Remote voting refers to the process of casting votes through electronic means, allowing individuals to vote from a location other than a designated polling station. In India, the concept of remote voting is being explored as a means to enhance voter participation and convenience. However, there are certain considerations that need to be taken into account before implementing remote voting in the country.
Statement 1: The remote e-voting machine will be a non-standalone device which requires proper connectivity to operate.
This statement is correct.
- Remote e-voting machines are electronic devices that would be used for remote voting. These machines would not operate independently and would require proper connectivity, such as internet or mobile network, to function effectively.
- The connectivity is necessary to establish a secure and reliable communication channel between the voter and the election authorities. It ensures the integrity and secrecy of the voting process.
Statement 2: The Representation of the People Act needs to be amended to introduce remote voting.
This statement is incorrect.
- The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951, are the primary legislations that govern the conduct of elections in India. These acts provide the legal framework for the registration of voters, preparation of electoral rolls, and the conduct of elections.
- While the current provisions of the act do not specifically mention remote voting, it does not necessarily mean that an amendment is required to introduce remote voting.
- The Election Commission of India has the power to make rules and regulations regarding the conduct of elections, including the use of electronic voting machines and remote voting. Therefore, the introduction of remote voting can be implemented through the rules and regulations framed by the Election Commission, without necessarily amending the Representation of the People Act.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the correct answer is option 'B', as only statement 1 is correct. The remote e-voting machine would require proper connectivity to operate, but the Representation of the People Act does not necessarily need to be amended to introduce remote voting. The Election Commission of India can make rules and regulations regarding remote voting without a specific amendment to the act. Implementing remote voting in India would require careful planning and consideration of various factors to ensure the integrity and security of the voting process.
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