JOIN USThe Election Commission is making use of technology to ensure that soldiers from Karnataka posted in border areas exercise their franchise in the May 12 Assembly elections. A total of 950 service voters registered in Uttara Kannada district will cast their votes through electronically transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS).
A list containing the names of candidates, their photographs and the political parties they represent will be fed into a software developed by the Election Commission, within 48 hours of the withdrawal of nominations. The software will also have NOTA option. The details will be uploaded in PDF format, which is accessible by senior army officers such as colonels and majors. This document can be opened only with the help of a QR code, explained Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul.
Every service voter can access the details with the help of personalised code. He will take a printout of the ballot paper and mark is his vote on it. A senior officer will attest the casting of vote. However, he has no authority to check the voter's selection. Such ballot papers will be sent by post to respective constituencies. They should reach the authorities concerned by 8 am on the counting day. The postal ballot will be opened with the help of a QR code and such votes would be counted separately. The whole process will be video recorded, the DC added.
This system was introduced in the recent elections to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections.