eVoting – The Future of Voting

eVoting, also known as Electronic Voting, is the flagship service of the Right2Vote platform. 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.

Suppose you live in an apartment building, and it’s time to elect a new president for your Resident Welfare Association (RWA) or your society. In the old days, we had to print ballot papers, book a hall, manage the crowd, and physically count the votes. The whole process required a lot of time and effort and led to stress.

But now, what if you could do it all with just a few taps on your phone? No queues, no crowd, no confusion. Just open an app or click a link, select your choices and submit. That’s eVoting, or electronic voting. It's the digital version of voting, where everything happens online.

Is There a Difference Between E-Voting, e voting and eVoting?

This is a common question asked by people. The short answer is No, there is no difference.

Whether you write it as eVoting, E-Voting, or e voting, all these terms mean the same thing.

The difference is only in writing styles or writing preferences. The concept behind them is always the same.

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 plus 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.

Generation 2 - Electronic Voting (eVoting) with physical presence

In the first generation, 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, Second generation introduced electronic voting machines (EVMs), replacing with traditional 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 the first generation 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 or specific class of voters 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

In the second generation 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.
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 on 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, third generation 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

The third generation 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.
6. Safe and Contactless: During COVID-19, eVoting became a go-to solution. It allows people to vote without physical contact, keeping everyone safe.

Right2Vote for IBC eVoting – Fully Compliant and Secure

One of the important areas where eVoting is being used today is under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). In insolvency cases, a group of creditors (banks, financial institutions, etc.) need to make decisions on how to deal with a company that is unable to repay its debts.

Here’s where eVoting becomes essential.

IBC law includes specific provisions about electronic voting:

• Section 109(4): It allows for proxy voting, including electronic proxy voting, and says it must be done in the format prescribed.
• Section 25A(1): It gives the authorized representatives of financial creditors the right to vote on behalf of the creditors via electronic means.
• Section 24(1): It allows meetings of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to take place in person or through electronic means.

Many Insolvency Professionals (IPs) and Resolution Professionals (RPs) are already using Right2Vote for fast and secure decision-making under IBC.

Right2Vote's online voting technology

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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