Hybrid Voting The Solution To Increase Voter Participation In Elections

In national elections, voter turnout hovers around 65%, meaning nearly 35% of eligible voters do not cast their votes. This is quite normal because political parties often secure power with just about 35% of the total votes cast, leaving a large portion of the population unrepresented. A major reason for this gap is the limitations of the current voting system, which primarily uses Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), is the geographical barrier. While EVMs are a significant improvement over paper ballots in terms of efficiency and accuracy, they still leave many voters unable to participate. A large number of voters are denied their right to vote, who could potentially influence the election’s outcome if they had the opportunity to vote.

This voter group includes individuals who, due to various reasons, cannot reach their designated polling stations. These reasons often include employment obligations in other states, government employees on duty, healthcare professionals like doctors and nurses, engineers, and even daily laborers working in metropolitan cities. Despite the provision of a single-day holiday for voting, the logistics of travel and the demands of their professions make it nearly impossible for these individuals to participate in the voting process. This is where the Online Election is very useful, ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their vote.

Why We Recommend Online Voting

At Right2Vote, our priority is to simplify the voting process and maximize participation. Online voting is our recommended method because it offers unmatched convenience like low cost, time-saving, security, and transparency. Voters can participate from any location with internet access, making it an ideal solution for people who are geographically distant from their polling stations or who have demanding schedules.

Moreover, online voting reduces the strain on physical polling stations, allowing for a smoother, more efficient election process. It also minimizes the chances of long queues and delays, which can be a hindrance to voting.

Understanding Hybrid Voting

Hybrid voting is a system that uses both online and offline voting methods. It allows voters to choose how they want to cast their votes either electronically, from the convenience of their location, or in person at a polling station. This dual approach is particularly useful in ensuring that people who cannot vote due to geographical or professional constraints can still participate in the electoral process.

How Right2Vote Provide Hybrid Voting

At Right2Vote, we specialize in providing online voting services that are secure, user-friendly, and accessible. Our platform is designed to accommodate the modern voter who may not be able to physically visit a polling station. By enabling online voting, we help eliminate barriers to participation for individuals who might otherwise miss out on voting due to logistical challenges.

However, we also recognize that online voting alone may not always be feasible, especially in regions with limited internet access or among populations that are less comfortable with digital technology.

Right2Vote’s recommendation about hybrid voting

For elections other than national elections such as those held by housing societies, associations, unions,  shareholders etc. We strongly recommend online voting as the primary option due to the benefits of higher voter turnout, lower costs, and efficiency. 

However, if for some reasons, your organization is considering hybrid voting or providing the option of booth based voting also to votes, you need to be aware of following issues:

1. Risk of voter voting is both online voting and offline voting option
2. Extra effort, time and cost of providing both options
3. Result might have to be added manually from online and offline method to arrive at the final result

If your organization wants our recommendation, then we recommend following options: 

1st best option: 100% Online Voting: Voting completely online increases participation since it makes it easier for everyone to participate, reduces the overall costs associated with traditional voting methods, and enhances security and transparency. You are saved for the hassle and cost of setting up a booth and managing it. Voters are spared the inconvenience of standing in a queue and traveling to a booth to vote. This approach ensures the most efficient and trustworthy electoral process, benefiting both voters and election administrators.

2nd best option: Online Voting + Computers at booth: Most voters can opt to vote online. However, the voters who want to visit the booth to vote, can visit the booth and vote on an association provided computer instead of the paper ballot or EVM. Voters will have to verify themselves though OTP verification as in case of mobile voting to cast their ballots online. This provides them with flexibility. Using this method guarantees a seamless integration of online and in-person voting, upholding security, accuracy, and a streamlined, uniform election procedure. This option mitigates the risk of voter voting in both options. It also mitigates the inconvenience of preparing two separate voter lists for online and offline options and adding results from two different sources.

3rd best option: Conduct online voting first, then offline: After online voting is completed, the revised voter list will be prepared excluding the voters who have already voted. Only the remaining voters would be allowed to vote offline. This way you would be able to avoid the risk of voters voting in both online and offline options. 

4th best option: Conduct offline voting first, and then online: This is the reverse of option 3. After offline voting is completed, the revised voter list will be prepared excluding the voters who have already voted offline. Only the remaining voters would be allowed to vote online. This way you would be able to avoid the risk of voters voting in both online and offline options. 

Government Elections

Online voting is the future for government elections. It will save the nation a lot of cost, time and effort and above all will substantially increase voter participation. Currently, the government is experimenting with postal voting and at home voting options for voters who cannot travel to the booth to vote. In a way, the government is already practicing hybrid voting. Still a lot of voters are denied their right to vote. These include:

1: Migrant voters living in a place other than where they are registered to vote. These include Non Resident Indians, students studying in different cities, citizens who have migrated for livelihood, marriage or other reasons. 

2. Essential service professionals like Doctors, Personnel in the Indian Security Forces, Transport sector employees who are not able to take a leave to vote.

3: Senior citizens and physically challenged: For senior citizens above the age of 85, the Government is experimenting with the voting at home option. But this method is less efficient in terms of cost, time and effort involved. Providing an online voting option is much more efficient. 

For Government elections, we appreciate that upgrading from EVM to online voting might be a big step. Hence we suggest hybrid voting where we can migrate to online voting in steps:

Step 1: Voters who are voting via postal ballot are migrated to online voting first

Step 2: Senior citizens who are being provided voting from home option, are also moved to online voting

Step 3: Then it should be opened to Non residents and migrants who are not staying in the same town

Step 4: Then to essential service professionals like doctors, transport sector employees

Step 5: Online voting option to whoever registers for online voting

Step 6: Online voting for all

Summary

Approximately 35% of those eligible to vote do not cast ballots in national elections, frequently as a result of practical and geographic difficulties. This is addressed by hybrid voting, which combines offline and online techniques to allow for greater involvement. Right2Vote online election platform is a Government of India tested, certified and approved eVoting platform that manages more than 3000 elections every year. In order to increase voter turnout, reduce expenses, and improve security we should shift to online voting because of its effectiveness. Right2Vote’s hybrid voting option with online voting and booth based voting options is a good transitory option till organizations become fully comfortable with 100% online voting options.

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