Remote Voting

Remote Voting refers to all means which allow electors to vote from locations other than the polling station assigned to the location where they are registered to vote. The remote voting location can be either abroad or from within the country. It comprises both electronic voting and non-electronic voting mechanisms.

Benefits of Remote Voting

  • A solution to disenfranchisement of Voters
  • Increase in Voting Turnout
  • Promote Inclusion

Challenges associated with Remote Voting

Legal

  • Amendments will be needed in Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951; Conduct of Election Rules, 1961; and The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
  • The ‘Migrant voter’ will need to be defined in terms of period and purpose of absence.
  • The process of Remote voting itself will need to be defined as whether ‘remoteness’ means outside the Constituency, District or State.

Administrative

  • Requirement of comprehensive migrant database and enumerating remote voters;
  • Ensuring secrecy of voting at remote locations;
  • Preventing impersonation;
  • Deciding number and location of remote polling booths;
  • Appointing polling personnel for remote polling stations;
  • Implementing model code in locations outside the poll-bound State.

Technological

  • Familiarising voters with multi-constituency RVM.
  • Counting votes cast at remote booths and transmitting results to returning officers in poll-bound States.

Way Forward

  • It is critical that any system of remote voting take into account the trust and acceptability of all stakeholders in the electoral system including voters and political parties. Political consensus is a must before the introduction of Remote Voting.
  • The issue should be properly debated in the Parliament and the relevant laws should be amended.
  • The ECI has to build confidence among the voters and political parties about the transparency and the integrity of the Remote Voting process.

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