Madhya Pradesh Conducts India’s First Paperless Voting in Bhopal
In a remarkable initiative, the Madhya Pradesh state election commission has successfully conducted a paperless voting process in Bhopal for the first time in India. This pilot project took place during the Panchayat by-election at polling station-295 in Ratua Ratanpur village, Berasia tehsil, on September 12.
Details of the Process
Secretary of State Election Commission Abhishek Singh explained, ‘There are two parts, one is voting which is already done through EVM but the rest of the process is manual and is done on paper. It is a very laborious process and takes a lot of time. Like in Panchayat elections, 26 types of forms are filled and for completing all the processes manually, a lot of human resources are required. It also takes a lot of time and there is a possibility of error.’
He added, ‘When we computerised it, which we implemented here and it was successful, real-time data and accurate data will be generated, fewer human resources will be used, transparency will be maintained and smooth elections will be conducted.’
Successful Implementation
The new system used thumb impressions and electronic signatures for voter identification, ensuring that the voter who came to cast a vote was physically present and no other person voted instead. Singh mentioned that the commission plans to gradually increase the number of booths using this system and aims to implement it 100 percent in the state within a few years.
Doubts Revealed
Madhya Pradesh -: Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India. It is known for its rich history, culture, and natural beauty.
Paperless Voting -: Paperless voting means using electronic devices instead of paper ballots to cast votes. This can make the voting process faster and more accurate.
Bhopal -: Bhopal is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its lakes and historical monuments.
State Election Commission -: The State Election Commission is a government body that organizes and oversees elections in a state to ensure they are fair and free.
Pilot Project -: A pilot project is a small-scale test run of a new system or idea to see if it works well before using it more widely.
Panchayat by-election -: A Panchayat by-election is a special election held to fill a vacant seat in a Panchayat, which is a local government body in villages.
Polling Station-295 -: Polling Station-295 is a specific location where people go to vote. In this case, it is in Ratua Ratanpur village.
Thumb Impressions -: Thumb impressions are used to identify people by their unique thumbprint, which is different for everyone.
Electronic Signatures -: Electronic signatures are digital forms of signing documents or verifying identity, often used in online transactions.
Abhishek Singh -: Abhishek Singh is the Secretary who explained how the new paperless voting system works.
