India’s First Paperless Election

Context:

For the first time, the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission successfully carried out paperless voting at a booth during a panchayat by-election in Bhopal

The paperless voting was done at polling booth 295 in Ratua Ratanpur gram panchayat, located in the Berasia development block, marking the first instance of such an initiative in India.

How Was This Paperless Polling Conducted?

The paperless polling experiment conducted during the Panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh consisted of voting electronically.

The polling officers used voters' signatures and thumbprints to confirm their identity and keep accurate voting records.

The commission was updating the voting percentage data every two hours for easy access. After the polling ended, the ballot paper accounts were emailed directly to candidates and polling agents

Internet Voting Experiment in kerala and Telangana

Previously ECI conducted an e-voting experiment during the Municipality election in Kerala in October 2021. The initiative aimed to make voting more convenient, saving time, effort, and money for voters

A mock e-voting trial was held at Khammam Municipality, Telengana where 2,128 people participated between 7 am and 5 pm. Approximately 58.6% of votes were cast smoothly, with no delays or disruptions. The process took just two minutes per vote, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been conducting small-scale pilot experiments across the country in order to improve the overall voter experience during elections. These experiments focus on reducing irregularities, increasing voter turnout, and safeguarding the right to vote.