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Remote Voting for Migrants


Why is it in the news?

  • In late 2022, the ECI proposed a Remote EVM (R-EVM) to address issues related to domestic migrant voting.
  • The goal was to improve the 67.4% voter turnout in the 2019 general elections.

About Remote Voting

  • Refers to voting from locations other than the registered polling station, including both electronic and non-electronic methods.

Need for Remote Voting

  • Enable migrants to vote, as they often move away from their registered constituencies.
  • Address the decrease in voting turnout, which can be substantial.
  • Accommodate the increasing registrations of unorganized workers.
  • Ensure access to the vote, especially for those registered in other constituencies.

Issues with Remote Voting

 Security and Integrity

  • Vulnerability to hacking, fraud, and manipulation.
  • Threat to the accuracy and reliability of election results.

Accessibility

  • Unequal access to technology and internet.
  • Challenges in delivering mail-in ballots to remote areas.

Veracity and Verification

  • Voter verification systems may produce false positives or negatives.
  • Risk of facilitating fraud or disenfranchising citizens.

Internet Connection & Malware Security

  • Dependence on reliable internet connections.
  • Vulnerability to software errors or malware.

Impact on Elections

  • Potential to favour larger parties and wealthier candidates.

Way Forward

  • Ensure the system maintains election integrity and prevents manipulation.
  • Gain the trust and acceptance of voters, political parties, and election machinery.
  • Build confidence in the security, integrity, and accuracy of the system.
  • Implement secure and tamper-proof technology with encryption and authentication measures.
  • Develop robust voter verification mechanisms.
  • Establish clear rules for verifying vote accuracy and transparency.
  • Conduct voter education and awareness campaigns.
  • Create a strong legal framework outlining rules, procedures, and responsibilities for remote voting.

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