The state election commission is seriously considering a proposal to provide e-voting facility to pravasi Malayalis in the local self-government elections in 2015, said state election commissioner K Sasidharan Nair. The state election commission authorities had a preliminary discussion with the agency that executed the e-voting facility in the Gujarat elections. “The commission can implement it here only after discussing with all political parties and technical experts from the field,” Nair said after holding discussions with the representatives of Scytl, the agency which conducted the first internet voting in Gujarat, here on Monday. The commission would like to know the apprehensions of political leaders and voters while introducing such a system in the state.
The state government has already decided to provide voting rights to pravasis in the next local body elections. The pravasis who have entered their names in the voters’ list will have to be present at the polling booths here for voting.
With e-voting, the pravasis will not have to come to Kerala, instead they can cast their votes from the cities or countries they work. But, the commission has to ensure a free and transparent mode of voting through internet. The commission would take a final decision only after ensuring this, Nair added.
To provide security cover for internet voting, the latest cryptographic technology has been used for e-voting, said Rajeev Sood, managing director of Scytl. The people can cast their votes through internet kiosks and smart phones. The system was successful in the local body elections in Gujarat and this technology has been used in 15 countries, Sood added.
Source: E-voting likely for 2015 panchayat polls – The Times of India.