Latest news with #ElectronicVotingMachines
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
‘Maintain strict vigil at EVM storage facility'
Kurnool District Collector P Ranjith Basha has directed officials to maintain round-the-clock strict surveillance at the EVM (Electronic Voting Machines) storage facility. He issued these instructions during a quarterly inspection of the godown, conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. The inspection was carried out on Friday at the EVM godown located within the Collectorate premises, in the presence of representatives from various political parties. The Collector meticulously examined the storage of EVMs and reviewed the existing security arrangements inside the facility. Officials demonstrated the safeguards in place, and the Collector verified compliance with protocols. The transparent inspection aimed to build confidence among stakeholders regarding the secure handling of EVMs. Participating in the inspection were District Revenue Officer Venkata Narayanamma, Election Department Superintendent Murali and political party representatives including Sai Pradeep (BJP), Manjunath (Jana Sena), Arun Kumar (Bahujan Samaj Party district In-charge), P. Raju (Vice President, Telugu Yuvatha - TDP) and Bajaranna (Congress).
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Bihar To Be First State To Allow Voting Via Mobile App, EC Explains How It's ‘Tamper-Proof'
Last Updated: Election Commission said that ample digital security measures have been put in place to ensure that app is "tamper-proof". It also explained how e-voting cannot be tampered with. Ahead of the Assembly elections, Bihar is set to become the first state in the country to allow voting with a mobile phone, according to State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad on Friday. His remarks came on the eve of the voting for the six municipal councils across three districts – Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran – slated for Saturday. However, it is not yet clear if the voting will take place in a similar manner in the upcoming Assembly Elections as well. Who Can Cast e-Vote In Bihar? The Election Commissioner said that the vote-by-mobile facility will be available to those who are unable to go to the polling booth to cast their votes. He said that the voters must have an app installed on their phone to be able to cast vote online. The official said that this facility can be availed by senior citizens, differently abled people, pregnant women and migrant voters. The Election Commission had also run an awareness campaign in this regard from June 10 to 22. The voters must download the e-SECBHR mobile application on their phone and link it to the phone number that they used to register their name on the electoral roll. Reports suggest that this app is currently compatible only with Android phones. Prasad said the app was created by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), and another app was made by the Bihar State Election Commission. The voters who do not own a mobile phone can also cast an e-vote on the Bihar Election Commission's website. Prasad said that around 10,000 voters had already registered for the e-voting system, and nearly 50,000 more are expected to vote online instead of going to polling booths. When asked how the voting process would remain safe and fair, he outlined strong digital security measures that have been put in place. 'The system will include features like blockchain technology, face matching, and scanning to make sure it can't be tampered with," he explained. He also added that there would be an audit trail—similar to the VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) used with Electronic Voting Machines in Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections—to keep a record of the votes. First Published:
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bihar Becomes 1st State To Allow Voting Via Mobile Phone App
Patna: Bihar will be the first state to permit voting via a mobile phone, State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said Friday evening, ahead of voting tomorrow for six municipal councils in three districts. Councils in Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran will go to the polls Saturday. The state will also hold an Assembly election later this year. It is unclear if the vote-via-mobile phone facility will be offered then too. In any case, for tomorrow the facility will be available to those who cannot go to a polling booth on the day of voting, Prasad said as he introduced the new e-voting initiative. Votes can be cast via an app that must be installed on the phone, he said. "This facility is for those unable to reach the polling station due to physical or locational reasons... like senior citizens, disabled persons, those who are pregnant and migrant voters." An awareness campaign was run from June 10 to 22. Voters who wish to register for e-voting must download the e-SECBHR app on their mobile (according to reports the app is compatible with Android phones only at this time) and link it to the phone number already registered to their name on the electoral roll. The app, Prasad said, had been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, or C-DAC, while another was developed by the Bihar State Election Commission. To maintain transparency while voting, only two registered voters can log in from one mobile number. However, the validity of every vote will be cross-checked against individual IDs. Those without mobile phones can also vote on the State Election Commission's website. According to Prasad, an estimated 10,000 voters had already signed up for this initiative, and another 50,000 are expected to cast votes without visiting polling booths, i.e., via the website. Asked about measures to ensure the integrity of the voting process, Prasad said 'fool-proof digital security' had been ensured. "The system will have features like a blockchain platform... face match and scanning... making the process tamper-proof," he said. He also said an audit trail - like the VVPAT, or Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail, for the Electronic Voting Machines used in Assembly and federal elections - had been put in place.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
What is mobile-based e-voting that Bihar has adopted first in India for municipal elections?
In a first for India, Bihar is set to implement Android mobile-based e-voting on June 28 for municipal by-elections for deputy chief councillor and ward councillor posts in Buxar Nagar Parishad. The entire e-voting process as part of the pilot initiative will be carried out using two mobile applications: 'e-Voting SECBHR", developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), and another app created by the Bihar State Election Commission. The e-voting system consists of an audit trail similar to the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system used in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), while the Face Recognition System (FRS), Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for vote counting, and digital locks for EVM strongrooms are also being utilised in parallel to enhance the polling process. The system comprises features like a blockchain platform. While speaking to Akashvani News a few days ago, State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said 10,000 electorates have registered for e-voting and 50,000 electorates will be able to exercise their right to vote via e-voting without visiting polling booths. He pointed out that strong digital security measures are in place and migrant labourers, migrant voters, the elderly, senior citizens, divyang voters, pregnant women, and seriously ill electorates will be able to exercise their votes using this process. The state election commissioner said that only the European country of Estonia has executed the e-voting process. The purpose to bring this process in effect is mainly for voters who go through challenges in reaching polling booths. It is likely to boost voter participation by making voting more accessible and convenient. Registration for e-voting was open until June 22, 2025. According to a Times of India report, DM Vidya Nand Singh said all preparations have been made for a transparent process. The administration has put up 136 polling stations. The e-voting window will remain open from 7 am to 1 pm on the polling day. The votes will be counted on June 30. 'The mobile application developed for this initiative ensures both confidentiality and security. Votes cast electronically will be encrypted and locked immediately, and will only be decrypted during the official counting process to maintain the integrity and secrecy of the election,' TOI quoted Singh as saying.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
EC allows mock polls after results, new SOPs for EVM memory check
NEW DELHI: In addition to the mock polls conducted before the start of voting, the Election Commission of India has implemented a new policy as part of its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to allow the same to check the integrity of EVMs within 45 days after the results are announced, sources said on Monday. The verification would be limited to 20 ballot units, 10 control units, and 10 VVPATs per request, and regular diagnostic checks will cost Rs 23,600 per Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) set, which would go up to Rs 47,200 if a mock poll is included, they said, adding that the amount is reduced from Rs 40,000 during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls for normal diagnostic check. However, if the EVM is found to be tampered with, the applicant candidate would get a refund, the sources said, adding that the facility would be available only to the first two losing candidates, in line with Supreme Court orders dated May 9 this year. The new protocol will first be applied to over 100 C&V applications from the fiercely contested 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, filed mainly by INDIA bloc candidates. The new SOPs formulated have been circulated to all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), outlining a step-by-step process, the sources said. 'Once the status of pending election petitions is confirmed and necessary High Court permissions are obtained, CEOs will share a summary with EVM manufacturers ECIL and BEL. The manufacturers must respond within two weeks with a district-wise C&V schedule, names of authorised engineers, and a designated district in-charge engineer, who will sign off on the certificate of authenticity of the EVM's burnt memory and microcontroller,' a source said. If any unit fails the C&V process, a detailed report from the engineer and the district election officer must be submitted to the Commission, and the faulty unit stored separately, they said. Verification limited to 20 ballot units, 10 VVPATs According to the new SOP, the verification would be limited to 20 ballot units, 10 control units, and 10 VVPATs per request, and regular diagnostic checks will cost Rs 23,600 per Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) set, which would go up to Rs 47,200 if a mock poll is included, said sources.
