Bihar introduces voting via mobile phone app, becomes first state to adopt e-voting system
Bihar pioneers mobile voting, introducing an app for voters with physical or locational challenges, ensuring inclusive elections.
Bihar is creating history by being the first state to introduce mobile phone voting. State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad made this latest e-voting initiative a reality before the Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran district municipal council elections.
The e-voting system is intended for voters with physical or locational limitations, i.e., senior citizens, disabled people, pregnant women, and migrant voters. The voters must download the e-SECBHR app, which at present supports Android phones, and connect it to their registered phone number in order to cast their votes.
Interestingly enough, the app was created by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), whereas another app was designed by the Bihar State Election Commission. For transparency purposes, only two registered voters can access the same mobile number, and every vote shall be authenticated using individual IDs.
For others who do not have mobile phones, their voting can also be done through the website of the State Election Commission. Already, approximately 10,000 voters have enrolled for e-voting and a further 50,000 will vote without going to the polling booths, i.e., through the website. The system will incorporate facilities such as blockchain platform. face match and scanning. in order to make the process tamper-proof.
He also added that an audit trail – such as the VVPAT, or Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail, for the Electronic Voting Machines employed in Assembly and federal polls – had been instituted.
