Remote Voting | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• India is a democratic country with a Constitution that grants all citizens the right to vote regardless of their race, religion, gender, or economic status. While there has been a significant increase in voter registration, the lack of voter participation remains a concern, with approximately one-third of eligible voters not casting their votes. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has identified internal migration as one of the major reasons for low voter turnout.
• To address this issue, ECI has developed a prototype of a Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM) that allows migrant voters to cast their votes from remote polling stations. ECI has sought the opinions of recognized political parties on necessary changes in legislation, administrative procedures, and voting methods and technology for domestic migrants. However, 16 opposition parties have expressed their opposition to the RVM for domestic migrants, citing concerns over the lack of clarity on the definition and number of domestic migrants, as well as political anomalies and problems associated with the proposal.

Significance and benefits:

• The issue of voter disenfranchisement due to migration can no longer be ignored in today's technologically advanced world. Despite a 67.4% voter turnout in the 2019 General Elections in India, over 30 crore eligible voters did not participate, and the Election Commission of India is concerned about this low voter turnout and the varying levels of participation across different states and union territories. Internal migration, such as for work, education, or marriage, is one of the prominent reasons for voter disengagement, particularly among rural populations, who make up the majority of domestic migrants.
• To address this issue, the Election Commission of India has developed a new system called the Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM). This system allows domestic migrants to vote from remote polling stations, improving voter turnout and ensuring that all eligible citizens have a say in the democratic process. The system is designed to enable entitled service voters to cast their vote using an electronically received postal ballot from anywhere outside their constituency, which is an easier option than the traditional postal ballot system. The system is expected to increase participation by addressing the time constraints of the traditional postal ballot system. However, some opposition parties have expressed concern about the lack of clarity on the number and definition of domestic migrants, among other issues, and have opposed the implementation of the RVM system.

Remote voting with the help of Block Chain Technology

• The use of blockchain technology has become more important for remote voting during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the need for social distancing. In the United States, the mail-in ballot system was widely used, but it relied entirely on paper. The blockchain approach involves an online public bulletin board that allows for a linear ordering of data and can only be appended to by users. The bulletin board is public and can be accessed by anyone for verification purposes.
• This technology has been used for cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, where transactions are recorded on a public blockchain. To use blockchain for voting, the voting authority must authenticate the bulletin board, and users must register their votes in a ledger using cryptographic signatures. While this system promises data security and verifiability, it relies on networks and devices, which could introduce vulnerabilities, as is the case with any Internet-based system.

Way Forward- Vote from anywhere

• The director of IIT Madras emphasized that any new remote voting system should not deviate significantly from the current electoral process. The system must establish mechanisms to gain the confidence of not only voters but also booth agents from political parties and independent candidates since voters will be allowed to vote from anywhere.
• The director noted that a remote voting system would be a significant step forward in enabling migrants to vote, such as students who are unable to vote because they are away from home. While a remote voting system could allow people to vote from anywhere, including those outside the country, the system must meet the highest standards of security and trustworthiness.
• The director also highlighted the use of technology in the election process, such as the digitization of electoral rolls. He argued that developing technology might not be difficult, but it is crucial to ensure transparency and trustworthiness. To improve trust in electronic voting machines, the VVPAT was introduced. The IITs and other premier institutions are currently working on remote voting.