Internet voting system introduced for the first time in a bypoll

Puducherry: For the first time in the country, Internet voting system was introduced for the service voters in the Nellithoppe Assembly by-election to be held on November 19. The Election Commission is taking several measures to conduct the election in a free and fair manner and as part of it, it had introduced ‘Electronic Transmitter Postal ballot’ facility. This facility was introduced in the Nellithoppe by-poll on an experimental basis.Under this system,the concerned election officer would contact the eligible service voters in the constituency over cell phone or by e-mail and will give them a one time password.

When the service voters contact the election department using the given password, they will be given a special number with which they could cast their vote.The vote cast by the service voter will reach the Returning officer of the constituency. The election department had already explained to all political party representatives in Puducherry about the new technology, following which it was introduced at Nellithoppe for the by-poll.

There are four service voters in Nelithoppe assembly constituency and on November 6 e-mails were sent to all the four in the presence of Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena, Puducherry Chief Electoral officer Candavelou and District Election Officer Sathyendra Singh Dursawa. Returning officer Malarkannan told newspersons today that two of the service voters had had replied and were explained how to cast their vote by internet. The other two could cast their votes till 8AM on November 22, the counting day, he added and said the system will continue depending upon its success. (UNI)