Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath on Friday advocated a cautious approach to introduction of an online voting system.
Raising doubts about the secrecy in the online system, he said: “We have to think before taking any decision.”
Mr. Sampath chaired the one-day south zone symposium here on the best electoral practices and election management. The Chief Electoral Officers of southern States and other officers participated.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines, the CEC said a committee was constituted to explore more options to enable non-resident Indians (NRI) to exercise their voting rights. “The government has given voting rights to NRIs. As per the existing legal framework, if they are available on the day of polls in the country, they can cast their votes. A committee has been constituted to examine various provisions such as postal ballot or Internet voting, and the committee has been examining the feasibility of those options.”
On the possibility of introducing online voting in view of the mute response of a large number educated youth to the existing system, Mr.Sampath said the issue should be dealt more cautiously.
The CEC said that now the elections were being conducted in polling booths in a well-sanitised manner. Presiding officer and the agents of candidates would be present, and there would be secrecy. Such things could not be provided in an online system.
There were abuse of money power and bribing of voters in the existing system. After online voting was introduced, “if somebody goes to the voter’s house and threatens or gives money, what will happen to secrecy? We have to think before taking any decision.”
‘No’ to ballot systemDismissing the demand to restore the ballot system, Mr. Sampath said the Election Commission had full faith in the electronic voting machines (EVMs). “We have been conducting parliamentary elections with EVMs since 2004… , and EVMs are dependable. Till date, no one either proved any error or manipulation.”
