Election Commission proposes remote voting for inter-state migrants

Tags: National National News

The Election Commission of India has moved a proposal to all political parties to enable domestic migrants to vote for their home constituencies from their place of stay through a new remote EVM (RVM).

Important facts

• RVM has been developed with the help of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL). It is based on the currently used EVM system.

• The Election Commission has sought written views of all recognized national and state-level parties by January 30, 2023, and has scheduled a demonstration of the RVM prototype to party representatives on January 16.

• The Election Commission has also sought views of political parties on legal, administrative and technical challenges in implementing it.

• According to the Election Commission, the Multi Constituency Remote EVM for Domestic Overseas Voters can handle 72 constituencies from a single remote polling booth.

• It is expected that this step will help in boosting voter turnout and strengthen the democratic process of India.

Why has the proposal of remote voting been brought by the Election Commission?

• There were 834 million registered voters in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections out of which only 66.44% voted.

• In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the number of registered voters increased to 912 million while the voter turnout was barely 67.40%.

• Registered voters are unable to vote for various reasons, the main reason being domestic migration.

• Voters who are absent from their home places on the day of poll, even if they want to vote but are unable to reach their constituencies to vote due to various reasons.

• That is, a large part of the population is disenfranchised due to the need for work or lack of resources to travel.

• This goes directly against the EC’s “No voter left behind” goal.