JOIN USThe e-voting system was introduced for the first time in the country last year during civic polls in Gandhinagar Municipal Council in Gujarat.
The system allows those who do not want to go to the polling station a provision to exercise their franchise online from wherever they feel comfortable.
Speaking at a function to sign an MoU between the Election Commission of India and Janaagraha, State Election Commissioner C R Chikkamath said a committee has been constituted to study the Gujarat model and finalise the modalities.
Under e-voting system, a vote has to register as an online voter. Those without direct access to an internet connection can avail of this facility through the e-polling booths that are set up by the SEC. An individual registered as an online voter will be taken off the list of regular voters at the polling booth in order to avoid multiple voting.
“We hope to start the system at least in a few wards during the 2013 election to ULBs”, Chikkamath said, requesting Infosys Founder and Chairman Emeritus Narayana Murthy to provide the SEC technical help in the venture.
‘Voters’ security at stake’
Replying to queries from reporters after the event, CEC S Y Quraishi expressed reservations regarding the e-voting system stating the security of the voters could be compromised.
“What if a voter is held at gunpoint and made to vote online? How can we ensure that the voting is free and fair?” Quraishi asked.