For the first time, the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission successfully carried out paperless voting at a booth during a panchayat by-election in Bhopal.
The paperless voting was done on Wednesday at polling booth 295 in Ratua Ratanpur gram panchayat, located in the Berasia development block, marking the first instance of such an initiative in India.
Why the Need for Paperless Booth?
"Paperless booths have been introduced to make voting in panchayats and urban areas easier, smoother, and more transparent," said State Election Commission secretary Abhishek Singh. He further explained that a total of 26 forms need to be filled out in order to complete the process at polling stations.
Mistakes in these forms often lead to disputes, thus creating unrest and fights among the candidates. Digitization of these forms using paperless booths might be able to solve this problem.
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First Paperless Booth in MP
The first trial of this system was successfully conducted in Ratua Ratanpur village of Madhya Pradesh, with an unexpected 84% voter turnout.
How Was This Paperless Polling Conducted?
The paperless polling experiment conducted during the Panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh consisted of voting electronically. The polling officers used voters' signatures and thumbprints to confirm their identity and keep accurate voting records.
The commission was updating the voting percentage data every two hours for easy access. After the polling ended, the ballot paper accounts were emailed directly to candidates and polling agents
Internet Voting Experiment in Telangana
Previously ECI conducted an e-voting experiment during the Municipality election in Kerala in October 2021. The initiative aimed to make voting more convenient, saving time, effort, and money for voters.
A mock e-voting trial was held at Khammam Municipality, where 2,128 people participated between 7 am and 5 pm. Approximately 58.6% of votes were cast smoothly, with no delays or disruptions. The process took just two minutes per vote, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been conducting small-scale pilot experiments across the country in order to improve the overall voter experience during elections. These experiments focus on reducing irregularities, increasing voter turnout, and safeguarding the right to vote.
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