eVoting

eVoting, also known as Electronic Voting, is the flagship service of the Right2Vote platform, an eVoting solution approved by the Government of India. Let’s explore the meaning of eVoting and the various types of eVoting technologies used globally with Right2Vote.

What is eVoting?

eVoting or electronic voting encompasses several terms including mVoting (Mobile Voting), rVoting (Remote Voting) and iVoting (Internet Voting). Essentially, eVoting refers to voting electronically via the internet. The voting medium can be any internet-enabled device, such as a mobile phone, computer or laptop. Typically, eVoting allows voters to cast their ballots remotely, eliminating the need to visit a specific polling booth.

eVolution of eVoting

Voting has undergone significant evolution over time, leading to some confusion about the term eVoting. While eVoting originates from Electronic Voting, it has come to mean internet-based voting. Different regions have adopted various voting processes, each with unique features. Here, we explain the evolution of eVoting and why the Generation 4+ eVoting technology from Right2Vote stands out.

Generation 1 - Physical voting

The oldest form of voting is physical voting, also known as booth-based voting, where voters must be physically present at a designated location. Within physical voting, there are several variations:

1. Voting by Raise of Hands
2. Voting by Dropping Items in Option Boxes : Each option has a separate box, and the one with the most items is declared the winner.
3. Voting by Paper-Based Secret Ballot: This method remains the most prevalent worldwide.

Physical voting with paper based secret ballot is still the most prevalent voting system across the world.

Generation 2 - Electronic Voting (eVoting) with physical presence

Generation 1’s paper-based voting has numerous drawbacks, such as:

• Lengthy and time-consuming manual counting
• Counting errors and ballot rejections due to incorrect markings
• Susceptibility to manipulations

To address these issues, Generation 2 introduced electronic voting machines (EVMs), replacing paper ballots. In India, EVMs have been in use since 1982, representing a significant technological advancement over manual counting. EVMs are not connected to the internet, ensuring accuracy and reducing ballot rejection due to marking errors.

Generation 2.5 - Limited Remote voting (rVoting)

With advent of internet internet-based voting limited remote voting experiments started. During generation 1 of paper voting, specific voters like members of the armed forces were given the right to vote via postal ballots. Similarly, government of India is providing very limited number of voters of specific class to vote by a technology similar to emails. Here the election commissions email the ballot to the voter, and then the voter downloads it, votes, and emails back the document with his signature. This method is not real time and there are lot of limitations including requirement of physical counting, lengthy process, limited security and authentication etc.

Generation 3 - Internet based voting (iVoting) with physical presence

Generation 2 voting technology - EVMs, has many drawbacks including:

1. The EVM machines are costly, bulky, need to be powered by batteries and need safe keeping
2. EVM machines get outdated very soon and need replacement. Generally, hardware based with limited scope of software updates
3. Voter still need to come to the EVM to vote
4. Counting still require adding up votes from different machines
5. Booth capturing is possible as votes are stored on individual EVM machines and not in central server
6. Manual authentication of voters

Internet based voting solved most of these problems. Internet based voting can be done on most of the internet enables devices with screens. The ballot page can be configured on the software and shown on screen which substantially solves the limitation of EVM machines which provides very limited options. It does not require the voting agency to buy single purpose and costly EVM machines.

However, generation 3 iVoting is generally limited to specific booths where the voting agency provided stationary digital equipment in form of screens or computers on which voter has to vote. The hardware is generally provided by the voting agency which has security software and hardware bases security to ensure that voters cannot vote via any unauthorised device.

Generation 4 - Mobile Voting or mVoting

Generation 3 iVoting method still has many limitations including:

1. Voter still has to visit the booth to vote
2. Voting agency need to provide physical device and set up booths for the voters to be able to vote. This makes iVoting very costly and unaffordable for most organizations

To solve these problems, mobile voting or voting with the help of mobile devices came into being. Now voter can vote from any device from anywhere. The voter need not visit the booth to vote, and the voting agency need not provide costly equipment to the voters to be able to vote. Voter can vote directly from their mobile phones / tabs / laptops, or any other internet enabled device. mVoting substantially increases voting process efficiency due to following reasons:

1. Voter turnout: Voter turnout increases substantially as voter is able to voter from anywhere and he need not physically visit the booth and stand in a queue to vote. Migrants and others who are not present in the city are also able to vote.
2. Cost saving: With mVoting the election commission need not set up booths or provide physical instruments to the voters to vote. Voters vote from anywhere from their own equipment. This saves substantial cost of election management. It is cost effective for voters also as they can vote within minutes from anywhere and they do not have to spend time and money to visit the booth.
3. Time saving: The complete election process is automatic including sending invites, authentication of voters, voting, result counting and hence saves lot of cost. Elections can be managed in a day or even less. Voters also saves lot of time as they do not have to travel to booth and stand in a queue.
4. Effort saving: As the voting process is automatic there is no requirement of physical security of the booth, logistics of voting machines, management of queue, physical authentication of voters etc. This leads to substantial saving in efforts for the election commission and also for the voter.
5. Better authentication and security: With mobile voting, authentication of voters also happens automatically by the system and there are no chances of manual errors or frauds. Things like duplicate voting, impersonation, false voting, booth capturing etc is history now. The votes are also stored in central servers with proper firewalls, encryption and other security measures.

Right2Vote's online voting technology

Right2Vote's online voting technology is superior even to generation 4 - Mobile Voting. It has all the above advantages of mobile voting and even more:

1. Substantially higher voter turnout: Voter can vote anytime from anywhere. Voter has the option to vote via website, android app or iOS app. User friendly interface and easy and friction less login process helps in higher voter turnout. Features like digital invites and reminders with links also helps in increasing voter turnout.
2. 90% cost saving: No booth required; no equipment required.
3. 99% time saving: Voting can be set up in minutes. One or 2 people can handle the complete election. Voters can vote in less than a minute.
4. 99.9% effort saving: Invite to voters, reminders, authentication, voting, result counting. Everything is automatic without any human intervention.
5. 100% Secured: Right2Vote's technology is secured by encryption, firewalls, and multilayer security. Right2Vote's online security is certified by STQC, MeitY, Government of India
6. 10 times better authentication: Right2Vote comes with multiple authentication options and layers including email OTP and SMS OTP based authentication, 2 factor authentication, Geo tagging, geo fencing, Voter Selfie. Option of biometric authentication and Aadhaar based authentication also built in.
7. Automatic result counting and instant result: Result is counted by the system automatically without any human intervention and is instantly available as soon as the voting gets over. All possibilities of human errors, rejection of votes, tampering etc is eliminated.

To better appreciate Right2Vote's advanced voting technology email Right2Vote at contact@right2vote.in or call at +91 9920591306 and ask for a demo.

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Also read:

• What is Mobile voting
• Advantage of Mobile Voting
• Types of Voting
• Online Vs Offline
• Security and safety
• Hacking
• Coercion