In a first-of-its-kind move, the Bihar State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the introduction of mobile-based e-voting for the upcoming municipal and by-elections scheduled on June 28. This innovative step aims to make voting easier for senior citizens (above 80 years), differently-abled individuals, pregnant women, people with incurable diseases, and non-resident voters, particularly migrant workers.
The initiative will be implemented in six municipal bodies and 40 urban local bodies where general and by-elections are due. The Commission issued a notification on Friday detailing the process and eligibility criteria.
Key Highlights of the E-Voting Initiative:
-Registration Open: Eligible voters can register for e-voting from June 14 to June 22.
-Voting Window: E-voting will be conducted on June 28 from 7 AM to 1 PM.
-Device Requirements: Voters must use an Android smartphone (5G or above) and download the official e-voting app of the State Election Commission from the Google Play Store.
-Verification Process: Registration involves providing the EPIC number or name, verifying via OTP, and selecting the e-voting eligibility criteria.
-Secrecy and Audit Trail: Voters will receive a digital verification receipt similar to a paper trail (VVPAT) confirming their vote. Maintaining vote secrecy will be the voter's responsibility.
-Limitations: Only 10 per cent of voters per booth will be allowed to e-vote. A maximum of two voters can register using one mobile device, and voting must be done from the same number used during registration.
General elections will take place in:
-Mehsi and Pakridyal Nagar Panchayats (East Champaran)
-Kochas Nagar Panchayat (Rohtas)
-Khusrupur, Naubatpur, and Vikram Nagar Panchayats (Patna)
By-elections are scheduled in various municipal bodies across Banka, Buxar, Gaya, Saran, and Siwan.
This move marks a technological milestone for electoral reforms in Bihar, potentially paving the way for broader e-voting adoption in the future.