The poll panel will soon discuss a conceptual framework of the technology to enable vote-from-anywhere

The Election Commission of India is working on a plan to allow migrants to vote for a candidate in their home constituencies from anywhere in the country.

The proposal is under discussion and involves ushering in a new-age electronic voting machine that will have a dynamic candidate’s list to enable voting for a contestant in one’s home constituency, said a report by The Economic Times.

If approved, the new voting system will allow a voter registered in Malda but working in Delhi to vote for a candidate of her choice in Malda from Delhi. At present, migrant voters are unable to vote unless they go to their constituency.

According to the report, about 10,000 new-age EVMs are estimated to serve the purpose with every district given 5-6 such machines at various ‘remote voting’ centers with a higher number in bigger cities having a higher migrant population.

Soon, the full Election Commission will deliberate a conceptual framework of the technology to enable vote-from-anywhere, with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in mind, said officials quoted in the report.

The Economic Times report quoted former director-general of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing Rajat Moona as saying, “We are looking at an EVM which instead of a fixed paper ballot for a specific constituency will have a dynamic candidate’s list display to allow one to vote for a candidate in one’s constituency. So each machine would be able to help voters of multiple constituencies cast the ballot instead of being specific to one constituency. New machines will have to be brought in for the purpose and we hope to share the conceptual plan and prototype soon with the EC, which will take a final decision on it.”

The report said that two key challenges have been identified so far, including minimal internet use with high safety features, and the formulation of a protocol for vote counting, VVPAT checks, and verification for ballots cast using the dynamic EVMs, which according to Moona, is the toughest.

Read the full report in The Economic Times