In the ever-evolving digital world, the transition of traditional systems to online platforms, including the critical function of voting, bears significant potential. This editorial analysis explores the feasibility and challenges of implementing online voting in India, drawing parallels to successful digital systems such as card security measures and UPI transactions.
Elections And Voting in India
- Elections in India are supervised by an active Election Commission of India (ECI).
- The ECI has made consistent efforts to encourage voter registration and participation.
- They are committed to a democratic environment and ensure a fair electoral process.
Introduction Of Electronic Voting Machines
- The Election Commission introduced Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the 21st century.
- The use of EVMs has led to an improvement in the reliability and sophistication of the electoral process.
Variation In Voter Turnout
- Voter turnout tends to vary from one place to another.
- Rural areas in India have shown a higher voter turnout than urban areas.
- The 2019 elections saw a voter turnout of 69.71% in rural areas and 64.5% in urban areas.
Increased Turnout In Cities
- The 2019 elections marked a significant increase in voter turnout in cities, reaching 64.5%.
- However, migration remains a challenge in terms of voter registration and participation.
Migrant Voters And Registration
- Migrant voters can register to vote in their new location.
- This process can be complicated.
- Short-term migrations may mean voting in your original district.
The Demand For Online Voting
- There is a high demand for online voting systems.
- This demand is backed by the success of online payments and India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Online Payments vs. Online Voting
- Online payments and online voting are fundamentally different.
- Despite these differences, the discussion of online voting based on the success of online payments is worth exploring.
Advantages Of Online Voting
- Online voting may increase voter participation by allowing voting from any location.
- It can reduce costs associated with transportation and protection of booth materials and EVMs.
- Logistical expenses may also decrease with online voting.
Risks and Challenges With Online Voting
- Online voting requires high levels of trust and confidentiality.
- Safety measures need to be implemented to protect voting platforms from cyber-attacks and espionage.
- There is potential for allegations of fraud in online voting.
Trust Issues With EVMs
- Despite years of using EVMs, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not eliminated mistrust and accusations around the process.
- Experiences and learnings from online voting in other countries need to be taken into account.
Exploring Online Voting
- Online voting is currently in the pilot phase or used minimally in countries like Estonia, Switzerland, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Norway.
- These platforms are primarily used for local elections or to accommodate non-local voters.
- There are ongoing discussions regarding the susceptibility of these online platforms to cyber-attacks and potential government influence.
- In 2018, the UK government announced plans to test online voting to increase its acceptance and usage.
India’s Unique Position
- India has a robust experience in managing millions of UPI transactions daily, which encourages the adoption of DPI.
- The widespread usage of Aadhaar and smart devices contributes to the growing ecosystem.
- India’s Reserve Bank has implemented two-tier security for online card usage.
India’s Security Measures
- A unique model developed in India includes the use of One-Time Passwords (OTPs) tied to mobile numbers.
- This provides an extra layer of verification, thereby enhancing security.
Enhanced Security Measures
- An innovative model, originating in India, uses One-Time Passwords (OTPs) linked to mobile phones for added security.
- This method boosts verification levels, thus improving security.
Potential Application For Voting
- Some elements of these security measures can be applied to voting systems.
- The use of decentralised blockchain technology, along with an unalterable ledger, could increase voting transparency and security.
- Voter identification could be managed through Aadhaar and OTPs during a limited voting window.
- Legal changes would be necessary to facilitate this.
Challenges And Solutions
- Transitioning to online voting raises complexities, primarily concerning voter security.
- Existing polling station structures currently assure secure voting.
- However, remote voting presents risks, such as voter intimidation or manipulation.
Precedents And Future Steps
- The largely incident-free nature of UPI transactions outside traditional bank branches provides a promising precedent.
- Postal ballots offer another similar analogy.
- To gradually build trust, online voting could be introduced incrementally via pilot phases, beginning with local-level elections.
- A hybrid model tested in selected regions could be a wise approach in this evolution.
Source: How far is India from online ballots? (Deccan Herald, November 29, 2023)