Online voting, an idea that holds promise

The landscape of governance and civic engagement has been evolving rapidly with the advent of digital technologies. From banking to e-commerce, various sectors have embraced automation and digitization. The concept of online voting emerges as a natural progression in this digital era, promising convenience and efficiency in the electoral process.

1: Dimension- Nominations

• Transition to Online Filing: Candidate nominations should be shifted from physical to online filings before Election Commission (EC) officials, incorporating robust identity verification measures.
• Leveraging E-filing Platforms: Drawing from the success of e-filing platforms in income tax and corporate laws, the transition to online nominations should be streamlined and seamless.
• Ensuring Validation Checks: Appropriate identity and validation checks must be integrated into the online filing system to maintain the integrity of the nomination process.

2: Dimension- Polling Booths

• Redundancy of Traditional Infrastructure: With the adoption of online voting, the traditional infrastructure of polling booths, EVMs, and duty personnel will become obsolete, necessitating a redefinition of roles.
• Role Redefinition: Presiding officers and EC officials' roles may need to be redefined to align with virtual monitoring and supervision, reducing the reliance on physical infrastructure.
• Limited Need for Physical Booths: While a limited number of physical booths may still be necessary initially, the gradual shift towards online voting will significantly reduce the requirement for physical infrastructure.

3: Dimension- Voter list

• Streamlining Voter Registration: Linking Aadhaar with the voter ID facilitates seamless identification of voters, enhancing the efficiency of the registration process.
• Addressing Existing Voters: Proactive measures are required to ensure the linkage and confirmation of Aadhaar with existing voter IDs, ensuring inclusivity and accuracy in the voter list.
• Facilitating Global Voting: Integration with Aadhaar enables voters to cast their ballots from anywhere in the world on the polling day, enhancing accessibility and participation.

4: Dimension- Securing the Process

• Authentication Process: On polling day, voters should receive a web link via SMS to access the voting site on their registered mobile, initiating a two-step authentication process.
• Ensuring Integrity: Stringent measures must be implemented to prevent duplicate voting and safeguard voter data, maintaining the secrecy and integrity of the voting process.
• Addressing Data Privacy: System controls should ensure restricted access to voter data and segregation of databases to uphold data privacy and confidentiality.

Mains Practice Question

Q. “Online voting holds the potential to revolutionize the electoral process”. Discuss