Kerala mulls online voting for next local body polls

KOCHI: State Election Commission (SEC) is planning to introduce the online voting facility in Kerala in phases, according to reports.

If all goes well Kerala voter will be exercising his choice of candidate from the comfort of his home or office. Efforts are on to experiment the idea in any one of the by-polls in coming days.

Authorities hope to implement the project in full scale in the local body polls slated for 2025. Kerala Digital University and the SEC have already entered into a contract to make online voting a reality.

The reasons for the failure of the experiment in Gujarat will also be studied by the Digital University.

In Gujarat, online voting was allowed in the local body polls since 2010. But the experiment did not catch the fancy of voters and very few people opted for online voting.

In 2020, Gujarat government dropped the idea ater a lapse of 10 years.

The existing election rules have to be amended in order to permit online voting. Before taking a final decision based on the study report to be prepared by the Digital University, government hopes to hold discussions with all stakeholders, including political parties.

“To make online voting possible, reforms should be effected at four levels. It includes things that the Commission is powered to implement at its free will, those steps which need the government’s concurrence, things which are to be implemented ater geting the nod of political parties, and finally those which require amendment of rules.”

Easy Internet access, e-literacy and general awareness about online facilities are factors that would favourably impact the implementation of online voting reform.

Last year, a self-taught engineer from Alappuzha had invented an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) which can help voters cast the ballot with the help of a mobile phone.

CS Rishikesh had demonstrated the working of the device before the SEC, which expressed satisfaction and had asked him to approach the Election Commission of India.

“Normal EVMS are compatible with this device.

“The EVM can be linked with a mobile phone and the setings inside polling stations configured with it. It will be controlled by the presiding officer.

“The voter needs to register a mobile number with the Election Commission and that can be used to cast the vote,” he had told media persons last year.