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Remote Voting Machine

Context:

5. Elections in Karnataka and Migrant Voters. Approximately 42.12% of the population of Greater Bengaluru is from different districts or states.

Remote Voting Machines:

5. RVM is a Multi Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM) for facilitating participation of domestic migrants from their remote locations itself i.e., the places of their current residence for purposes of education/employment, etc., for voting for their home constituencies.
5. This modified form of EVM can handle up to 72 multiple constituencies from a single remote polling booth.
5. These are similar to the existing EVMs in terms of security system and voting experience.
5. The initiative, if implemented, can lead to a “social transformation” for migrants.
5. The commission has maintained that RVMs, developed by the public sector undertaking Electronics Corporation of India Ltd, will be a standalone device not connected to the internet.

Analysis of Migrant Voters in Bengaluru

5. Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies carried out a study among migrant voters of Bengaluru.
5. In regions of migrant workers from north and northeast India, about 99% are not registered as voters.
5. They are registered as voters in their home constituencies. However, they are not able to vote in every election due to geographical constraints and difficulty in travelling back home during elections.
5. There are apprehensions among migrants to register as voters in other states due to: Fear of losing property in their home State, Inability to bring their families with them.
5. Though the majority of migrant workers were unaware of the ECI’s proposal to introduce RVMs, 80% of them supported it.
5. However, some raised concerns about the mode of voting and its accuracy.
5. The respondents of the survey greatly valued voting rights and supported RVMs.