In a bid to help migrant workers cast their vote and help those who are stranded out of their native districts, the Election Commission in association with the Tamil Nadu e-governance agency is exploring the feasibility of remote casting of votes.
Chennai:
A first of its kind webinar for technicians in blockchain technology is scheduled on August 10, as per the instructions of the EC. Global experts from IBM, technocrats with expertise in the blockchain and Supreme Court lawyers are to participate in the global event along with the top brass of the Election Commission.
“The webinar aims to bring together eminent IT experts to discuss the feasibility and challenges of leveraging blockchain technology for building secure remote voting facilities to allow migrants to exercise their franchise,” said Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer Sathyabrata Sahoo.
Recently the chief election commissioner gave instructions for the stakeholders to explore the option of remote voting and find the safety parameters and the foolproof mechanism that can be evolved. EC had also approached a few other IITs and Tamil Nadu e-governance agency seeking their expertise, Sahoo said. Several national and international experts will discuss the concept and the feasibility with respect to the Indian conditions. Issues like literacy ratio, voting awareness and the Constitutional provisions in elections will be brainstormed, the CEO added.
It’s a just a prelude and the EC also some active proposals to help the elderly and physically challenged cast their vote from home.