The world of elections is changing. In recent years, public conversation has been dominated by debates over traditional voting methods, sparking a global search for more secure and efficient solutions. This shift is not just about technology; it’s about restoring public trust in the democratic process.
Why the Need for Change?
The call for new voting methods has become louder in the wake of public statements by political leaders. For instance, in a meeting with President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said, “Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting.” Trump also quoted Putin as saying, “No country has mail-in voting. It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections.”
It is not the first time that leaders have blamed the voting system for their loss. When Donald Trump lost in 2020, he blamed the mail-in ballots; in India, whenever the candidate loses, they point fingers at EVMs; and in countries where paper ballots are used, the same blame shifts to ballot manipulation. This shows a common tendency among politicians across the world: they rarely accept defeat gracefully and instead choose to question the system itself.
These bold claims, which were widely fact-checked and found to be misleading, brought the reliability of traditional ballot methods into sharp focus. While the United States is not the only country to use mail-in voting, many nations, including India, Australia, Canada, and Germany, have successfully used some form of postal voting for years. The controversy highlighted a fundamental need: a voting system that is not only secure but also seen as transparent and trustworthy by everyone. This is where online voting comes in as a potential solution.
The Global Rise of Online Voting
While remote voting systems have faced scrutiny, many countries around the globe have already turned to digital solutions, demonstrating that online voting is not a futuristic concept but a present-day reality.
- Estonia, for example, is a global leader in online voting. Since 2005, its citizens have had the option to cast their ballots online in national elections. In their 2023 parliamentary election, more than half of all votes were cast digitally for the first time in history.
- France allows its citizens living abroad to vote online in legislative and consular elections.
- Switzerland has been piloting online voting for years, especially for its large number of citizens living overseas and for its frequent referendums.
- In Canada, many municipalities use online voting for local elections. This has been especially popular in provinces like Ontario and Nova Scotia, where local governments can choose to adopt the technology.
- Even parts of the United States allow online voting for specific groups, such as military personnel, citizens living abroad, or voters with disabilities, recognising the value of accessibility and convenience.
These examples show that online voting has a proven track record, especially in increasing accessibility and making it easier for people to participate in elections. The need for this method arises from a desire to overcome the limitations of traditional systems, such as the time it takes to count paper ballots, the risk of human error, and the challenges faced by voters who cannot easily get to a polling place.
Right2Vote: A Look at a Modern Solution
One of the most prominent examples of a secure online election platform is Right2Vote. This company has been a leader in the field for over a decade, providing a robust, simple and transparent way to conduct elections. The platform’s success is a testament to the power of online voting to meet modern electoral needs.
With a history of completing more than 20,000 elections and conducting over 3,000 elections every year, Right2Vote has proven its reliability and capacity to handle large-scale events.
The platform’s success stems from its impressive set of features, designed to make the entire process smooth and secure for everyone involved. Some of these features include:
Personalised Invite and Reminder Notifications: Right2Vote sends invite notifications to all voters about election schedules to their registered email or mobile. Right2Vote also sends reminder emails to voters who have not voted yet. This ensures that all members are well-informed and engaged.
Secure Login and Voter Authentication: To prevent fraud and ensure that only authorised members can vote, Right2Vote employs secure login methods, such as OTP-based authentication. This verifies the identity of each voter, adding an extra layer of security to the election.
Secret Ballot Functionality: Right2Vote provides the secret ballot system by ensuring that each vote is cast anonymously and securely. A vote is cast in secret, when no one except the voter knows their individual choice. The purpose of a secret ballot is to ensure that a person can vote according to their free will, without facing any kind of pressure, be it physical or mental, during the voting process.
Audit Trail and Transparency: A crucial feature of Right2Vote is the audit trail, which provides a secure and verifiable record of IP address, Time of voting and voter identity (Not Voter’s Choice) of voters. This enhances transparency and accountability, allowing for scrutiny of the election process if necessary.
Voter Receipt and Confirmation: After casting their vote, residents receive a digital receipt or confirmation on their registered email or mobile, verifying that their vote has been successfully recorded. This feature assures the voters and builds trust in the system. The Voter Receipt feature is similar to VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail); however, in the Right2Vote platform, we provide voters with a digital receipt and not a paper trail.
SMS & Email Reminders: The platform can send automated reminders to voters, helping to increase participation and ensure no one forgets to vote.
These features, combined with the convenience of voting from a personal device, have proved to significantly boost voter turnout and engagement. For instance, many associations have reported two to three times higher participation rates after switching from traditional paper ballots to an online system.
Why Online Voting is the Future
Online voting is a logical and necessary step forward in a world that is becoming increasingly digital. The old methods of postal or paper ballots, while historically significant, are often criticised for being slow, expensive, and prone to errors. Online platforms offer a superior alternative by providing:
- Speed and Efficiency: Results are available instantly, eliminating the need for long and tedious manual counts. This makes the election process faster and more efficient for everyone.
- Accessibility: Online voting empowers voters with disabilities, those who are travelling, or people with busy schedules to participate without barriers. eVoting can be a vital tool for ensuring that every eligible citizen gets their right to vote.
- Transparency and Auditability: Modern online voting systems, like Right2Vote, are designed with security and transparency in mind. The results are automatically tallied and can be audited digitally, reducing the risk of human error and fraud.
While debates over the past continue, the future of elections is clear. The need for a reliable, secure, and accessible voting system is more urgent than ever, and online voting is proving to be the most promising solution. With proven platforms like Right2Vote leading the way, the path is being paved for a more efficient and inclusive democratic process for everyone.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
Why the Sudden Need for a Vice President Has Arisen
We are all set to witness an early Vice Presidential election on 9 September 2025, and the timing has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Normally, the Vice President serves a five-year term as per Article 67 of the Constitution of India, but this time the post fell vacant before the scheduled end. The reason? The resignation of Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health concerns. His sudden exit has created a sense of urgency in political circles because the Vice President’s chair cannot remain empty for long. According to Article 68 of the Constitution, any vacancy arising due to resignation, removal or death must be filled “as soon as possible.” This provision is not just a technicality. It ensures stability at the highest constitutional level. After all, the Vice President is not only the second-highest dignitary of India but also the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. With Parliament already witnessing heated debates and walkouts, the urgency to fill this role cannot be ignored.
The Candidates: NDA vs INDI Alliance
The stage is set for a politically charged battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition-led INDI Alliance. The NDA has fielded Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, a seasoned leader known for his firm grip on legislative affairs and loyalty to the coalition’s vision. On the other side, the INDI Alliance has nominated Shri B. Sudarshan Reddy, who served as a judge of the Supreme Court of India from 2007 to 2011. While the numbers in the electoral college seem to favour the NDA because of its Lok Sabha majority, the Rajya Sabha equation and cross-party voting could make things more interesting than they appear. Both candidates bring distinct strengths to the table. Radhakrishnan is expected to be the safe bet for the government to ensure smooth functioning of the Upper House, while Reddy is seen as a figure who could energise the Opposition’s narrative of checks and balances. So, the big question is, will it be continuity or surprise?
Roles and Powers of the Vice President of India
Many people dismiss the Vice President’s post as “decorative,” but that’s a big misconception. Constitutionally, the Vice President plays two major roles. First, as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President decides how debates are conducted, which bills are discussed, and whether the House runs smoothly or descends into chaos. In a country where Parliament sessions often see adjournments, protests and walkouts, this role is absolutely critical. Secondly, the Vice President acts as a backup to the President. If the President resigns, dies or is otherwise unable to function, the Vice President steps in as Acting President until a new one is elected. This makes the position a pillar of constitutional stability. Beyond the bookish definition, however, the Vice President’s style of leadership sets the tone for parliamentary culture. A neutral Vice President can build bridges between ruling and opposition parties, while a partisan one can deepen divisions. That is why this election matters more than ever.
The Voting Process: Indirect Election and the STV System
Unlike Lok Sabha or state elections, where ordinary citizens cast votes directly, the Vice President is elected indirectly. Members of both Houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, form the electoral college. The voting method used is the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which is quite different from the “first-past-the-post” method we’re used to. Here’s how it works: each MP ranks the candidates in order of preference, first preference, second preference and so on. If no candidate secures the required quota in the first count, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and their ballots are transferred to the remaining candidates based on the second preference marked. This process continues until one candidate crosses the quota. The beauty of STV is that it promotes consensus. Even if a candidate doesn’t have the outright majority in the first round, the system ensures that the eventual winner enjoys broader acceptability among MPs. In short, it’s not just about brute numbers; it’s also about being the second and third choice of many.
The election of the President and the Vice President of India differs mainly in terms of electorate size, vote value, and the role of state legislatures. In the Presidential election, both Members of Parliament and elected Members of Legislative Assemblies form the Electoral College, while in the Vice-Presidential election only Members of Parliament, including nominated members, participate. The value of votes in the Presidential election is weighted, with MPs and MLAs assigned different vote values to balance representation between states and the Union, whereas in the Vice-Presidential election every MP’s vote carries equal value. Additionally, state legislatures play a role in electing the President but have no part in electing the Vice President.
What Is the Term of the Vice President of India?
As per the Constitution, the Vice President of India serves a five-year term, beginning from the day he or she takes the oath. However, if a vacancy arises before completing the term, as in the current case, the successor elected does not just “fill in the gap” but begins a full new five-year term. Interestingly, the Constitution places no limit on the number of terms a Vice President can serve, meaning re-election is always a possibility. This flexibility makes the office politically dynamic. While the tenure itself is fixed, the weight of the position is shaped by day-to-day performance in the Rajya Sabha. For the next Vice President, every session of Parliament will be a test of patience, impartiality, and political skill. With India entering a phase of intense political competition ahead of the 2029 general elections, the new Vice President will need to walk the tightrope between neutrality and political realities more than ever before.
Why This Election Matters More Than Usual
Here’s where I think this election becomes more than just a formality. The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar has suddenly opened a new chapter in Indian politics. The choice of Vice President will not only decide who manages the Rajya Sabha but also signal the mood of Indian politics heading into the future. If the NDA’s C. P. Radhakrishnan wins, it will further consolidate the government’s grip over Parliament and ensure smoother passage of bills. But if the Opposition’s B. Sudarshan Reddy pulls off an upset, it will inject fresh energy into the INDI Alliance and give the Opposition a symbolic victory. Personally, I believe India deserves a Vice President who rises above party politics and ensures that the Rajya Sabha remains a temple of debate, not disruption. This election might not capture the frenzy of a Lok Sabha poll, but make no mistake, it will shape the political climate of India in the years to come. And that’s why all eyes are on 9 September 2025.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
In any election, the most critical item is the voter list. If you get the voter list wrong, you can never have a fair and transparent election. It is the responsibility of the election officer to ensure that the voter list is accurate. It is also the responsibility of the voters to ensure they register themselves in time for voting and provide correct and updated information to the election officer.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
In Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is doing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list with the objective of updating the voter list. This includes deleting voters who have migrated or have expired. The opposition parties are not only doubting the revision of the voter list but also the intention of the ECI. Now the opposition parties are trying the extend the doubt on the voter list to other state elections and the national election too. Who is right and who is wrong?
Both are wrong!
Aadhaar – Digital and biometric database of citizens and residents
Indian has a population of around 150 crore people, and around 100 crore people are above 18 and eligible to vote. Preparing, maintaining and updating a voter list of 100 crore people is not a small task. There are bound to be some errors, and we cannot expect 100% accuracy. But an accuracy of 99.99% is very much feasible due to Aadhaar.
Over the last 15 years, India has invested in and created an amazing digital database of its citizens with their biometric data, including fingerprint and IRIS scan. The Aadhaar database is one of the most modern databases of citizens across the world, and many developed countries, including the USA, do not have such an extensive digital database with biometric data of citizens.
Multiple Voter Lists – Duplication of effort and wastage of taxpayers’ money
Currently, in India, the Election Commission of India is responsible for National and state elections. The State Election Commissions (SECs) are responsible for only local body elections in the state and not the state election. Hence, ECI maintains one voter list, which is used in national elections. ECI also maintains state-wise voter lists, which must be a subset of the national voter list. SECs of all 28 states maintain their own voter list that is used for local body elections.
SEC’s voter list is not a subset of the ECI voter list. This is crazy. This leads to duplication of efforts at the cost of taxpayers’ money, but also leads to a lot of inconvenience for the voters, too. They have to separately update their data in both the voter list, and most Indians are not aware that ECI and SECs maintain separate voter lists.
What the Election Commission of India (ECI) should do is maintain a single voter list for the nation, a digital database with voter ID linked with Aadhaar ID. As the Aadhaar ID is used for multiple purposes, including mobile connections, bank account opening, passport, UPI, etc, the Aadhaar ID is regularly updated by the citizens. If there is a change of address, demise of the citizen, etc, the data is updated in the database as citizens need to update the same to be able to take various government and other services. This with help automatically update the voter list too.
Advantage of Aadhaar
Aadhaar also has the enormous advantage of being a biometric database of citizens. It makes offline and online authentication of voters accurate and foolproof. Sooner or later, India will have to move to online voting, and at that time biometric database would help in smooth and accurate authentication of voters online. Even at voting booths, Aadhaar is a better database for authentication, as it can help weed out false voting and impersonation with the help of biometrics.
A biometric database also ensures that duplicate entries in the database are not possible. Each biometric data point is checked for uniqueness before registration in the database. As Indians migrate from one state to another for jobs, education, marriage, etc, it is possible that a citizen is registered in more than one state for voting. Most government processes, including voter registration, are so bureaucratic that very few voters take the pain to deregister from the voter list of the previous state. Citizens generally focus only on registering in the new state. Aadhaar’s biometric data can ensure that automatic deregistration happens when a citizen registers in a new state.
SEC’s voter list should be a subset of ECI’s voter list. Automatically, based on the address of the voter in the Aadhaar, the voter list should be updated. The voter list of each local body election, each municipality election, and each panchayat election would automatically flow from the ECI’s digital database linked with Aadhaar. SECs would not be required to maintain and update the database. Citizens would also not need to separately update their voter ID as it will automatically get updated with Aadhaar. This will save a lot of taxpayers’ money and a lot of effort for both election officials and citizens.
If Aadhaar linking has so many advantages, then why is ECI not linking the Voter ID with Aadhaar?
When Aadhaar was introduced, many political parties opposed Aadhaar on grounds of privacy. The Government of India went on the back foot and agreed in front of the court that Aadhaar would be for the targeted delivery of subsidies and benefits, not for purposes like linking with voter IDs or general surveillance.
During 2013–2015, Supreme Court hearings in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, the government’s lawyers explicitly told the Court that Aadhaar would be “voluntary” and used only for welfare schemes, subsidies, and financial transactions like LPG subsidies, MNREGA payments, pensions, etc. Multiple interim Supreme Court orders (e.g., dated 23 September 2013 and 11 August 2015) restricted Aadhaar’s use to certain subsidy schemes and said it could not be made mandatory for other purposes. The Court also directed that Aadhaar should not be linked with voter databases, PAN cards, or used for unrelated services until the constitutional validity was decided.
In 2015, the ECI started the National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) to link Aadhaar with voter IDs to eliminate duplicates. The Supreme Court’s 11 August 2015 interim order stopped this linking, citing privacy concerns and the limits on Aadhaar usage set earlier. At that stage, the Government accepted the Court’s restriction.
In 2016, the Aadhaar Act was passed. The official statement of objects described Aadhaar as a tool for the targeted delivery of subsidies and services funded from the Consolidated Fund of India. No mention was made of voter ID linkage as a permitted purpose.
Post-2018, there has been a shift in the stance of the government. After the Puttaswamy privacy judgment (2017) and Aadhaar’s partial upholding by the Supreme Court (2018), the government began pushing for wider linking. In December 2021, Parliament amended the Representation of the People Act to allow voluntary Aadhaar–voter ID linking, officially reversing the earlier limitation.
Still, Aadhaar linking is voluntary and not compulsory as per the law. The government needs to change that to allow ECI to link Voter ID with Aadhaar. The current controversy is the right opportunity to do that. The opposition, which was against the Aadhaar Voter ID linking, is now demanding a digital copy of the voter list. If privacy is the issue, then opposition should not be given access to the voter list. Opposition cannot eat the cake and have it too. If they want accuracy and transparency, then they need to allow Voter ID and Aadhaar linking.
But Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, how can it be linked with Voter ID?
Yes, Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship. Aadhaar is a proof of identity and proof of residence in India. It is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to anyone who has resided in India for at least 182 days in the previous 12 months, regardless of nationality. Foreign nationals legally residing in India (e.g., OCI cardholders, work visa holders) can also get Aadhaar. As per Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016: “The Aadhaar number or the authentication thereof shall not, by itself, confer any right of, or be proof of, citizenship or domicile.”
Aadhaar doesn’t prove citizenship, but voter rolls already require a citizenship check separately at the time of registration (via other documents like birth certificate, passport, etc.). When a voter is registering for the first time for voter ID, they will have to prove their citizenship with the help of other documents, like a birth certificate, passport, etc. The government can also mandate the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to keep a record of Aadhaar IDs issued to non-citizens. Aadhaar ID issued to non-citizens can be of a different number series and a different colour.
Aadhaar and Voter ID linking can also help the government with the problem of illegal migrants. It can help the government identify and record illegal migrants in India. This can prove very useful with problems like terrorism. If an illegal immigrant or a terrorist registers for Aadhaar, the government with get their biometric data in the form of fingerprint, iris scan and photograph. During terrorist activities, the biometric data would help in identifying the perpetrators.
Technology platform for voter registration from Right2Vote
Similar to national elections, even in smaller elections, the voter list is a crucial and controversial matter. To ensure fair and transparent elections, the election officers of these elections should ensure accuracy and transparency in the creation of the voter list.
Apart from eVoting services, Right2Vote also offers voter registration services. In the Right2Vote’s online voter registration platform, Right2Vote provide features like OTP based verification of mobile number and email ID to ensure accuracy of email ID and mobile number data, which is critical for online elections. Google Forms and other modes of data collection generally lead to clerical errors. OTP based verification at the time of registration eliminates these errors.
For the Election Commission of India and State Election Commissions, Right2Vote has also built a feature of online Aadhaar number updating and linking with Voter ID. Technology is not the limitation. Even the intention of ECI is not the limitation. The only limitation is senseless opposition to Aadhaar.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
Whenever elections take place in India, whether for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, or even at the local panchayat level, one topic dominates all discussions: the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). From news anchors and journalists to politicians and common citizens, everyone talks about EVMs. Are they secure? Are they functioning properly? Were they tampered with? The moment a political party loses an election, the first question they often raise is, “Was the EVM hacked?”
This recurring debate has led people to look at alternatives. In this blog, we’ll explore what EVMs are, how they function, EVM rentals, why people often doubt them, and why online voting, especially through trusted platforms like Right2Vote, is fast emerging as the smarter choice not just for government elections, but also for housing societies, clubs, associations, colleges, and many more elections.
What is an EVM and How Does It Work?
An Electronic Voting Machine is a device designed to help voters cast their votes in a quick, easy, and electronic manner. It consists of two parts: the Control Unit, which is operated by polling officers, and the Balloting Unit, where voters press the button against the name or symbol of their chosen candidate.
Once a vote is cast, the machine emits a beep sound, confirming that the vote has been recorded. In recent years, to boost voter confidence, the Election Commission also introduced the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). It shows the voter a printed slip for a few seconds with the name and symbol of the candidate they just voted for. This slip is then automatically dropped into a sealed box.
All of this is designed to create trust in the system, but somehow, the controversies and conspiracy theories fail to die down.
Concerns Around EVMs
Despite their ease of use and efficiency, EVMs often find themselves at the centre of political blame games. Whenever an election result goes against a party, the losing side almost always questions the EVMs.
Questions like “Can they be hacked?”, “Were they tampered with during transportation?” or “Was there a software bug?” keep making headlines. Even though the Election Commission has repeatedly stated that EVMs are tamper-proof and operate offline (not connected to the internet), public doubt continues to rise.
Moreover, the entire EVM-based election process involves several logistical challenges:
- Transporting EVMs to and from polling stations securely.
- Storing them safely in strong rooms with tight security.
- Manual counting at centralized locations.
- And despite being electronic, final results often take 3 to 15 days to be declared.
While these challenges are still manageable for national or state-level elections where huge government machinery is involved, what happens when you want to conduct a smaller election?
Can You Rent EVMs for Society or Club Elections?
One of the most common questions people ask is: “Can we use EVMs for our housing society elections?” or “Can we rent EVMs from the government?”
The answer is No. EVMs are the property of the Election Commission of India and are strictly meant for official government elections such as Lok Sabha, state assemblies, or panchayat elections. They are not available for public rent or commercial use. The government does not provide EVMs to private groups, associations, or residential societies under any circumstances.
Even if someone somehow managed to procure EVMs (which would be illegal), the usage would come with many complications:
- Trained personnel are required to operate and supervise the machines.
- Security arrangements are essential to protect the machines before, during, and after voting.
- Storage and transportation need to be handled with care.
- Trust issues may arise since there’s no official oversight from the Election Commission in such cases.
So if EVMs can’t be rented, what’s the alternative? Most people fall back on the old-school method of paper ballot voting. But that’s a whole different set of headaches.
The Limitations of Paper Ballot Voting
Paper-based elections might sound simple, but in reality, they’re quite resource-heavy. Organizers need to design and print ballots in large numbers, maintain their secrecy and security, and ensure that they don’t get spoiled or torn. Even a minor mistake on the paper—like a smudge or double tick—can invalidate a vote.
On voting day, voters queue up and mark their choice on the paper, which is then dropped into a sealed box. After voting ends, counting begins manually. This is a time-consuming, tiring, and error-prone process. You need neutral volunteers, counting agents, and a secure venue for hours, sometimes even days. The chance of disputes, human errors, or allegations of vote manipulation remains high.
That brings us to a modern, safe, and effective solution for online voting.
Why Online Voting Is a Game Changer
Online voting, especially through a trusted and certified platform like Right2Vote, is transforming the way elections are conducted, making them fast, secure, transparent, and effortless.
Here’s how Right2Vote is redefining elections:
OTP-Based Authentication
Each voter is authenticated using a secure One-Time Password (OTP) sent to their respective mobile or email. This ensures that only eligible voters can access the ballot.
Secret Ballot with Voter Receipt
Just like traditional elections, voter anonymity is preserved. Voters get a digital receipt confirming that their vote has been cast, but without revealing their choice to anyone else.
Highly Secure & Tested Platform
The Right2Vote system has undergone rigorous testing and audits. It uses bank-grade encryption, secure servers and maintains the highest levels of security.
Instant Counting & Quick Results
No more manual tallying. Once the election ends, the results are available within seconds. This removes delays, human errors, and post-election disputes.
Vote from Anywhere, Anytime
Whether you’re traveling, at home, or even abroad, you can vote from any device: mobile, tablet, or computer. No need to visit polling stations or wait in long queues.
Full Support and Guidance
The Right2Vote team handholds the organizers at every step from setting up the election to voter onboarding, explaining features, and providing technical assistance. Even first-time organizers find the process smooth and stress-free.
Trusted by Thousands, Proven by Results
Right2Vote is not new. It has been a pioneer in digital elections for more than 10 years, conducting over 20,000 elections across India for a wide variety of clients. These include:
- Housing Societies and RWAs
- Student Council Elections in Colleges
- Clubs and Associations
- Corporate Boards and Unions
- IBC Resolution Voting under IBBI guidelines
And the feedback? Overwhelmingly positive. People appreciate the ease of use, cost savings, fast results, and reduction in disputes.
Conclusion
EVMs served their purpose when India needed to move away from inefficient paper ballot elections. However, now it’s time to move on. But for many organizations today, be it a society of 500 residents, a club of 1,000 members, or a college with 3,000 students, EVMs are not even an option.
Paper ballots are outdated and inefficient. And renting EVMs is simply not possible.
eVoting is the solution. It is tried, tested, and trusted. It’s fast, secure, and transparent. And most importantly, it brings democracy to your fingertips.
So the next time you’re planning an election in your housing society, club, college, or any other organization, don’t get stuck in the past. Embrace the future. Embrace Right2Vote.
Because in today’s digital world, voting from anywhere is not just a dream, it’s a reality. And we’re proud to have made it possible for thousands of organizations and crores of Indians.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
The right to vote is the pillar of democracy, empowering citizens to shape their governance. While most of us are familiar with basic voting concepts, there are actually several different voting methods used in different scenarios. For example: Direct Voting and Indirect Voting. Let’s explore these systems in detail to better understand how democratic decisions are made.
Direct Voting: The People’s Direct Choice
Direct voting is the purest form of democracy, where citizens directly elect their representatives without any intermediaries. In this system, every eligible voter casts their ballot, and the candidate receiving the most votes wins the election. This method is wonderfully straightforward – “one person, one vote”.
Direct Voting means voters directly choose the person who will hold the position.
In India, we see direct voting in several important elections. Our Lok Sabha (Parliament) and Vidhan Sabha (State Assembly) elections all operate on this direct voting method, where voters directly choose their MPs and MLAs, respectively. Even at the local level, municipal corporation elections and panchayat elections use direct voting to ensure grassroots democracy.
In a Resident welfare association(RWA) election or society election, when society members directly vote for their President or Secretary, they participate in direct election at the community level. Each member gets an equal vote, and the candidate with majority support wins the position. This method is particularly valued for its transparency and the direct connection it creates between voters and their representatives.
In India, Direct Voting is used for:
- Lok Sabha elections (Members of Parliament)
- State Legislative Assembly elections (MLAs)
- Local body elections (Panchayat, Nagar Nigam, Municipal Corporations)
- President and Vice-President of local associations or clubs
Indirect Voting: Elected representatives elect the key post holders
Indirect voting introduces an additional layer to the democratic process. Here, citizens first elect representatives who then make further electoral decisions on their behalf. It’s a two-stage process that combines public participation with representative decision-making.
India’s presidential election provides the clearest example of indirect voting. While we might think of the President as the head of state, citizens don’t directly elect this position. Instead, our elected MPs and MLAs cast votes to choose the President. Similarly, Rajya Sabha members are elected by state legislators rather than the general public.
This system also appears in organizational settings. Many housing societies first elect a managing committee through direct voting and, subsequenty the committee selects office bearers like the Chairman or Treasurer. While this removes the direct public vote for these positions, it can lead to more efficient decision-making in larger groups.
In India, Indirect Voting is used for:
- Election of the President of India
- Election of Rajya Sabha members (Members of Parliament – Upper House)
- Chairpersons in Municipal Corporations, Panchayats
- Office bearers like Secretary, Treasurer, or Committee Members in housing societies or associations (however, this depends on the bylaws of the society, many societies and associations also practice direct voting).
Pop Quiz
Prime Minister of India and Chief Minister of various states in India are elected by direct voting or Indirect Voting?
Citizens of India vote to elect their Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). They do not get to vote directly to elect the Prime Minister or Chief Minister. After elections of MPs, the MPs among themselves elect the Prime Minister. Similarly, after elections of MLAs, MLAs among themselves elect the Chief Minister. Hence both PM and CM are elected by indirect voting.
Single Transferable Vote (STV): Precision in Representation
The Single Transferable Vote (STV) system is a more advanced and complex method of conducting elections. This is a form of direct voting but unlike simple direct or indirect voting, STV allows voters to rank candidates by preference, leading to a more balanced and representative outcome. While the process is more complex.
In STV elections, voters don’t just choose a single candidate – they rank all candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives enough first-preference votes to win, the system begins transferring votes from the least popular candidates to others based on voters’ subsequent preferences. This continues until all positions are filled by candidates who have achieved the required vote threshold.
What makes STV particularly valuable:
- Prevent vote wastage
- Produce outcomes that reflect broader consensus
However, the complexity of STV traditionally made vote counting extremely time-consuming, often requiring thousands of man-hours for a single election. This is where modern solutions like Right2Vote’s platform have revolutionized the process by automating these complex calculations.
Voting in Housing Societies: Practical Applications
Housing society elections often employ different voting methods depending on the positions being filled and the society’s specific needs. Understanding these options can help communities make informed decisions about their governance structures.
For key leadership positions like Society President, Vice-President or Secretary, direct voting remains the most popular choice. This gives every member an equal voice in selecting these important roles, fostering transparency and community engagement. Members appreciate knowing their vote directly influences the outcome.
Many societies use indirect voting for committee formations. They might first elect a managing committee through direct vote, then have this committee appoint specific office bearers including president, vice president, treasurer from among the elected management committee. This approach can streamline decision-making while still maintaining democratic principles.
Some progressive societies are even exploring STV systems for certain elections, particularly when they want to ensure diverse representation across different groups or interests within the community. While more complex to implement, STV can help balance competing interests in larger or more diverse societies.
The Digital Voting Revolution
Traditional voting methods, while effective, often come with logistical challenges – paper ballots, long queues, manual counting and human error. Digital platforms like Right2Vote are transforming this landscape by bringing elections into the digital age.
For elections, the platform provides:
- Secure online voting accessible from any device
- OTP-based authentication to prevent fraud
- Instant results without manual counting
- Complete audit trails for transparency
- Digital record-keeping of all decisions
Even complex STV elections become manageable with:
- Automated preference counting
- Instant transfer calculations
- Elimination of manual errors
- Immediate availability of final results
The platform’s ISO 27001 and STQC certification is testimony of enterprise-grade security, while its user-friendly design makes it accessible to organizations of all sizes. From small housing societies to large professional institutes, digital voting is making elections more efficient, transparent and accessible than ever before.
Why Modernize Your Voting Process?
Transitioning to digital voting solutions offers numerous advantages:
Time Savings: What used to take days or weeks of manual counting now happens in minutes. Society members and election officials alike appreciate the dramatic reduction in administrative burden.
Enhanced Security: Digital systems eliminate risks like duplicate voting or ballot tampering while maintaining voter anonymity. Advanced encryption protects the integrity of every vote cast.
Greater Accessibility: Members can vote from anywhere at any time, increasing participation rates. This is especially valuable in today’s mobile world where people may not always be physically present.
Cost Efficiency: Organizations save significantly on printing, distribution and manual counting costs. The environmental benefit of paperless elections is an added bonus.
Audit Capabilities: Complete digital records allow for easy verification and auditing of election results, building trust in the process.
As democratic organizations of all types look to modernize their operations, digital voting platforms like Right2Vote are becoming an increasingly attractive option.
Certifications and Trust – Why Right2Vote is Reliable
Right2Vote isn’t just any online tool – it’s:
- Government of India-recognized and STQC certified.
- Holds ISO 27001 certification for data security.
- Listed on the Government eMarketplace (GeM).
- Completed more than 20000 elections.
Thousands of organizations have successfully conducted elections using Right2Vote.
The Future of Democracy
Understanding different voting systems helps us appreciate the nuances of democratic decision-making. From the straightforward direct vote to the sophisticated STV method, each approach serves specific needs in different contexts.
What’s particularly exciting is how technology is removing traditional barriers to fair and efficient elections. Platforms like Right2Vote are making even the most complex voting systems accessible to organizations of all sizes, ensuring that good governance is within everyone’s reach.
As we move forward, we can expect to see more communities and institutions embracing these digital solutions. So, next time your association or club plans elections, choose the smarter way. Choose Right2Vote – and make voting simple for everyone.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
In the past, auctions in India, especially for government assets, bank properties, and insolvency cases, were riddled with problems. Manual processes, physical presence requirements, limited access, favouritism, cartelization and lack of transparency made it difficult for honest bidders to participate. Often, valuable assets were sold at much lower prices because only a few bidders could make it to the venue, and the process wasn’t always as fair as it should have been.
Both sellers and buyers were losing out. The sellers were not getting the best price for their goods due to a lack of optimal price discovery. Buyers were losing out as they were kept in the dark. They were not getting the opportunity to bid on all opportunities.
To address these issues, eAuction came into the picture.
What is eAuction?
eAuction (Electronic Auction) is the online process of buying or selling assets through a digital platform where multiple bidders participate in real-time from any location. It is just like a traditional auction, but happens with the help of the internet.
Whether you write it as eAuction, e Auction, or E-Auction, it means the same thing. It’s simply a stylistic difference; there is no technical or legal distinction among these terms.
The purpose of eAuction is to:
- Improve transparency
- Increase bidder participation
- Ensure fair competition
- Eliminate manual errors and physical barriers
How Does eAuction Work?
In an eAuction:
- The seller (government, bank, corporate, or individual) lists the property, goods or services for auction on an online platform like Right2Vote.
- Bidders register, review the auction terms and place bids in real-time.
- The system automatically records the highest bid, ensuring complete fairness.
- Once the auction ends, the highest bidder wins the item.
This process is now widely used for:
- Bank property auctions (cars, houses, and other assets repossessed by the bank after loan default
- During the liquidation or insolvency process under the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) cases.
- Government tenders and contracts
- Corporate asset sales
- Surplus goods auctions
- Sourcing or buying of goods in the government, corporations and other organisations
How Right2Vote Supports eAuction Owners and Bidders
Right2Vote, a trusted online election platform, is also empowering owners and bidders in eAuctions through its secure, user-friendly and mobile-based eAuction system.
Here’s how Right2Vote makes eAuctions better:
- Easy Access: Bidders can participate from anywhere using their mobile phones or laptops.
- Real-Time Updates: Live bidding and instant notifications keep everyone updated.
- High Security: OTP-based authentication and audit trails ensure fairness and prevent manipulation.
- Transparency: Owners can see the entire bidding history; bidders can trust that the process is clean.
- User-Friendly Platform: Simple design makes it easy for even non-technical users to bid confidently.
- Customizable: Right2Vote eAuction platform is customizable for reverse auction, closed bid and other various types of auction.
Whether you are an asset owner, liquidator, or bidder, Right2Vote helps make the eAuction process seamless, fast and fair. Right2Vote, unlike other platforms, does not complicate the process in the name of security. Right2Vote used simple and effective OTP based bidder authentication, which is fast and foolproof. Other eAuction platforms unnecessarily complicate the authentication process by introducing digital signatures and other requirements, which complicate the process of bidding.
Advantages of eAuction
- Wider Reach: Anyone across the country or even the world can participate.
- Cost-Effective: No need for physical arrangements or expensive venues.
- Time-Saving: Quick and efficient auctions can be completed within hours.
- Fair Competition: Everyone has an equal opportunity to bid.
- Higher Asset Value: More bidders usually mean better price discovery and higher selling prices.
- Complete Transparency: All actions are recorded and auditable.
The Monopoly Problem: Why Only One Private Agency?
Recently, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) mandated that insolvency auctions should happen only through one particular private agency. This agency is not even a government-owned entity.
But here’s the problem:
- This agency is not the only capable platform.
- Many private players like Right2Vote offer better, faster, more user-friendly and more transparent services.
- Limiting auctions to a single platform restricts innovation, competition and user choice.
Why Should the Government Open the Market?
- Fair Competition: Just as payments have multiple service providers (not just one private app), auctions should also have competition to improve quality.
- Better Technology: Private platforms like Right2Vote are more advanced, mobile-friendly and easy to use.
- Increased Participation: More platforms mean more bidders can access the auctions easily.
- Faster Auctions: Efficient private platforms can reduce delays significantly.
Restricting all insolvency auctions to only one platform is outdated. It’s time for the government to allow STQC-certified platforms that meet security and transparency standards to conduct these auctions, too. This will create a healthier, more competitive ecosystem for buyers, sellers and the general public.
Conclusion
eAuction is the future of asset sales in India. It brings speed, fairness and reach that manual auctions simply cannot match. Platforms like Right2Vote are leading the way with modern solutions that make the process smoother for everyone. It has completed more than 1200 auctions till now, which shows the worthiness of this platform in the field of eAuction.
It’s time for the government to trust multiple platforms, not just one, to handle such crucial processes. By opening the space to secure and a government of India-certified platform like Right2Vote, India can make eAuctions truly efficient, transparent and accessible for all.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
If you are a management committee member of a cooperative housing society, chances are you’re either preparing for an upcoming election or thinking about how to improve the process. Cooperative society elections are not just a formality; they are the backbone of transparent, fair and democratic society management.
But when election time comes, many society members and even committee leaders have a flood of questions in their minds. What is the legal process? Can we conduct online elections? How can we make the election transparent and efficient? What are the government rules?
In this blog, let’s walk you through everything you need to know about cooperative society elections, from the most common questions people search online to practical steps to improve the election process.
What People Search Before Cooperative Society Elections
When cooperative society elections approach, committee members and residents often search for:
- What is the government law for cooperative society elections?
- Can cooperative societies conduct online voting?
- What is the process of a cooperative society election?
- Who can vote in the election and who can contest in the election?
- What if elections are delayed?
- How can we improve participation in society elections?
- Can NRI or outstation members vote?
- Which online voting platforms are legally valid?
These are all valid questions, and it’s great to be informed before stepping into the election process.
Government Guidelines for Cooperative Society Elections
Cooperative society elections are governed by state-specific Cooperative Societies Acts and the 97th Constitutional Amendment. These laws ensure that cooperative societies function democratically and conduct timely elections.
Key Rules:
- Elections must be held before the end of the committee’s term (usually 5 years).
- The election is conducted under the supervision of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) or the State Cooperative Election Authority.
- A valid voter list must be circulated in advance.
- Voting is typically by secret ballot.
- Delaying elections can attract penalties and may lead to the appointment of an administrator by the government.
It’s important to follow the exact guidelines of your state’s Cooperative Societies Act. For example, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi and other states have their own detailed rules.
Can Cooperative Societies Conduct Online Voting?
One of the most common modern-day questions is:
Is online voting allowed in cooperative society elections?
The answer is: Yes, it is legally acceptable.
- Most Cooperative Society Acts don’t prohibit online voting. They only say members must vote in person, which means “personally / he needs to vote himself and not through proxy” not “physically present at a booth.”
- Maharashtra has gone one step ahead and actually encourages the use of modern technology for housing society voting.
- Courts have also supported online elections, saying that as long as the process is secure and transparent, the mode of voting (whether physical or digital) is not restricted.
Online voting platforms like Right2Vote are MCA-approved, STQC-certified and ISO 27001-certified, ensuring secure, transparent and legally compliant e-voting. Government guidelines require secret ballot voting in housing society elections. Right2Vote’s eVoting platform provides the secret ballot feature, which ensures that nobody, not even the election officer or Right2Vote’s team-come to know an individual voter’s vote choice. There are very few government-approved eVoting platforms which can provide a true secret ballot feature.
Why Consider Online Voting?
Online voting can solve many common problems faced during traditional elections:
- Low voter turnout
- Absentee Members (outstation or NRI members)
- Logistical difficulties in large societies
- Chances of manual errors or manipulation
Benefits of Online Voting:
Convenience: Members can vote from anywhere.
Fairness: It ensures secret, secure and tamper-proof voting.
Higher Participation: Online voting makes it convenient for members to vote from anywhere and any time, which helps more people participate.
Transparency: Results are system-generated and cannot be influenced.
Cost: Online voting leads to savings in cost both for the society and for the members
How to Improve Your Cooperative Society Election?
Here are practical steps to make your society elections more effective and transparent:
Plan Early
Start preparing at least 2-3 months before the election date. Prepare the voter list, finalise the election schedule and choose the mode of voting.
Ensure a Fair Voter List
Circulate the voter list well in advance and allow residents to raise objections or corrections. This will prevent last-minute conflicts.
Appoint a Neutral Election Officer
Even if you are using online voting, having a neutral election officer to oversee the process builds trust.
Educate Members
Inform all residents about the election process, voting methods and candidate eligibility through emails, WhatsApp groups, notice boards and society meetings.
Choose a Certified Online Voting Platform
If you are planning an online election, make sure you use a government-approved, STQC-certified platform like Right2Vote to maintain legality and trust.
Allow Adequate Voting Time
Keep the voting window open for at least 8 hours (or 24 hours for NRIs and distant members) to ensure maximum participation.
Promote Participation
Send reminders, encourage healthy competition and create an environment where all members feel their vote matters.
Maintain Transparency
Share the process clearly: how nominations are to be filed, how votes will be counted and when results will be declared. Transparency removes doubts.
Handle Disputes Professionally
If any disputes arise, resolve them according to the society’s bylaws or escalate to the Cooperative Registrar if required.
Cooperative society elections are not just about choosing office bearers; they are about strengthening community governance. A well-managed election builds trust, improves participation and ensures that your society runs smoothly.
With the rise of secure online voting options, the process has become easier, faster and more inclusive than ever. By following the right legal procedures, using modern technology and keeping the process transparent, your cooperative society can set an example of how community democracy should work.
If you’re a society committee member preparing for your next election, remember:
The more informed and transparent you are, the smoother and more successful your election will be.
Online Voting platforms like Right2Vote, can help you save cost, time and effort. It would not only increase voter turnout but also be secure, fair and transparent.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
The Sisirkunja Association of Apartment Owners, Kolkata had always followed the traditional method of holding offline elections – ballot boxes, paper ballots and voting booths. But in 2025, for the first time ever, they made a bold move: they decided to conduct their entire election online.
This wasn’t just about using technology. It was about solving a problem that many residential societies face today. How to make elections more inclusive, efficient, and transparent.
The Challenge: Reaching Every Voter, Everywhere
As the association started planning, they ran into a familiar yet tricky problem. Many apartment owners were living abroad or in different parts of India, making it difficult for them to vote in person.
In offline elections, this meant low participation. Even if someone wanted to vote, they couldn’t travel just for that. This raised a big question: How can we make sure that everyone, no matter where they are, gets the right to vote easily and securely?
The Solution: Right2Vote Online Election Platform
To solve this, the association reached out to Right2Vote eVoting team, an Indian government-certified online voting platform known for secure and remote elections.
They explained their situation to the Right2Vote team, that voters living outside India, the need for transparency, and a desire to increase turnout.
Right2Vote quickly provided a solution tailored to their needs. The answer was clear: conduct the election fully online, using their platform.
Key Features That Made It Work Smoothly
Right2Vote came with a host of smart, user-friendly features that made the online voting process smooth and secure for everyone.
Invite & Reminder Notifications
Every voter got timely notifications via email or SMS informing them about the election schedule. If someone hadn’t voted yet, they got reminder messages. This helped in making sure nobody missed out.
Secure Login with OTP
To vote, each member had to log in using a one-time password (OTP) sent to their registered mobile or email. This ensured that only eligible voters could access the ballot, preventing any misuse or fraud.
Secret Ballot System
Just like traditional elections, every vote was cast anonymously. No one could see who voted for whom. This allowed voters to vote freely and without pressure, ensuring fairness.
Audit Trail for Transparency
Each vote cast was logged with a timestamp, IP address, and the identity of the voter; however, the voter’s vote preference was not logged to maintain a secret ballot. This created a secure, verifiable trail that could be audited if needed, bringing full transparency to the process.
Voter Receipt Confirmation
Once a vote was cast, the voter got a digital receipt as confirmation. This message was sent via email or SMS and proved that their vote was successfully recorded. It worked like a digital VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail).
Multiple Voting for Multi-Flat Owners
Some people owned more than one flat in the society. Right2Vote’s system allowed such voters to cast separate votes for each flat, just like in offline voting.
Instant Result Declaration
Once voting ended, the system automatically calculated the results. There was no need for manual counting, eliminating human error and speeding up the process.
Additional Security: Voter Selfie & Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Since elections involve sensitive decisions, the association opted for extra layers of security to keep everything foolproof.
Voter Selfie Feature
Before voting, each member had to click a selfie, which the system recorded for identity verification. Only after this step could the voter proceed to the ballot. This helped verify that the right person was voting.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Instead of a single OTP, voters received two OTPs, one on their primary mobile/email and another on a different ID. Only after entering both could they access the ballot page. While it took a few extra seconds, it added strong protection against identity misuse and is especially useful for sensitive elections.
Mock Voting & Easy Guide for All Members
Knowing that not everyone is comfortable with technology, the association organized a mock election before the real vote. This gave members a chance to practice the process and ask questions.
In addition, they shared a voter guide that explained everything in simple steps with pictures and FAQs. This ensured that every member, young or old, could vote confidently.
Increase Voter Turnout
One of the biggest wins from the online election was the massive increase in voter turnout.
In previous offline elections, turnout barely reached 47–55%. But in 2025, with online voting, turnout jumped to 84%.
People could vote from their home, office, or even while travelling. It was convenient, secure, and took just a couple of minutes. Plus, the overall cost was much lower compared to setting up booths, printing papers, and hiring staff for offline voting.
Why Sisirkunja Trusted Right2Vote
One of the key reasons the association chose Right2Vote was the platform’s credibility, transparency, and government certifications.
Right2Vote eVoting platform is:
- Certified by STQC (Standardization Testing and Quality Certification) Directorate under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)
- Approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified for top-notch data security
- Audited regularly by CERT-IN empanelled agencies for network and application security
These certifications ensure that Right2Vote follows international standards for privacy, transparency, and data protection. With this level of validation, no one could question the legitimacy of the election.
Added to the certification, Right2Vote has a proven track record. Right2Vote has been providing technology to manage online elections for more than 10 years and conducts more than 3000 elections every year. Major housing societies across India and abroad, including projects by Tata Housing, Godrej, Mahindra, Prestige, and Embassy, regularly use Right2Vote’s online voting technology for conducting elections in various housing societies.
Conclusion
Sisirkunja’s 2025 election is proof that technology can make voting easier, safer, and more inclusive.
From voter selfies to instant results and record-breaking turnout, the transition to online voting was a complete success.
If your society, housing board, or organization is still relying on paper-based voting, maybe it’s time to follow in Sisirkunja’s footsteps and switch to Right2Vote because the future of voting is online.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
Introduction
As the world moves further towards digital solutions, online elections have emerged as a secure, efficient and accessible alternative to traditional voting methods. However, selecting the right online election platform is crucial to ensure the integrity and success of the electoral process. This blog outlines key factors to consider when choosing an online election platform, with insights into how Right2Vote addresses these considerations.
Security
Security is paramount in any election, whether offline or online. While physical polling stations rely on armed forces or police to prevent coercion and violence, online elections face threats like hacking and data breaches. Right2Vote mitigates these risks through multiple layers of security, including end-to-end encryption, strong voter authentication methods such as OTP-based verification through email and mobile and optional features like Voter selfie, Geo-tagging, Geo fencing, IP Restriction, and two-factor authentication (2FA) for added protection. The platform also ensures tamper-proof vote storage with comprehensive audit trails and safeguards against cyber threats like DDoS attacks and data breaches by providing server confirmation features. These measures ensure that the online voting process is as secure as traditional methods.
User-Friendliness
A secure platform is ineffective if users cannot navigate it easily. India’s history of using symbols and logos on ballot papers to assist illiterate voters underscores the importance of user-friendly design. Right2Vote prioritizes accessibility through an intuitive user interface that simplifies the voting process for users of all ages and technical proficiencies. The platform is responsive, ensuring compatibility across mobile devices and desktops and provides clear instructions through email invitations and a dedicated help desk. Additionally, Right2Vote offers multilingual interfaces that automatically adjust language settings based on the user’s browser preferences. The platform is fully cloud-hosted, eliminating the need for software installation, with an optional mobile application available for those who prefer it.
Personalised invites and reminders to voters with a personalised link ensure that the voters do not have to search for voting options or polling booths. Email-based or Mobile-based access ensures voters can vote from anywhere and at any time. Voters are excused from the inconvenience of travelling to a booth and standing in a queue.The platform’s One Time Password (OTP) based authentication process ensures quick, easy and secure access. Voters do not have to carry any identification cards for verification. Colour images of candidates on the ballot page ensure easy identification of voting options even for illiterate voters. Touch based easy selection and digital controls ensure there are no chances of mistake by voter leading to ballot rejection. Server confirmation and voter receipt feature ensures that the voter is assured that his vote is rightly captured. The whole voting process does not take more than a minute, making it the most user friendly election option.
Certifications & Compliance
While selecting an online election platform, verifying its certifications and legal compliance is crucial to ensure the integrity and security of the electoral process. Right2Vote distinguishes itself as a platform that has undergone rigorous testing and has received multiple certifications from reputable authorities.
Notably, Right2Vote is certified by the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. This certification confirms that the platform meets stringent standards for security and quality. Additionally, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India, has approved Right2Vote’s online voting system, further validating its compliance with corporate governance standards.
Beyond these government endorsements, Right2Vote has obtained several other critical certifications. These include the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for Information Security Management Systems, which underscores the platform’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive information. The platform also undergoes annual security assessments by CERT-IN empanelled agencies, resulting in Network Audit Certificates including Venerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) and Application Security Audit Certificates. These evaluations ensure that Right2Vote remains resilient against potential vulnerabilities and cyber threats.
The combination of these certifications positions Right2Vote as a legitimate and trustworthy online election platform. Its comprehensive compliance with national and international standards offers unparalleled confidence in its eVoting services. Few platforms in the market can match the level of assurance that Right2Vote provides, making it a preferred choice for organisations seeking secure and certified online voting solutions.
Accessibility
One of the primary advantages of online voting is the ability to participate from any location. Right2Vote enhances accessibility by allowing users to vote from any device, anywhere, at any time. The platform supports assistive tools like screen readers, ensuring inclusivity for voters with disabilities. These features ensure that all eligible voters can participate without geographical or physical constraints.
Scalability & Flexibility
An effective online election platform must accommodate various election types and sizes. Right2Vote excels in this area, offering support for a wide range of elections from small-scale events to large polls. Right2Vote has customizable features which enables more than 600 different kinds of elections including preference voting, weighted voting, multiple voting, ranking, team election and many other types of elections. The platform also has the option to conduct opinion polls, surveys, feedbacks, live polling and all other forms of opinion collection.
The platform facilitates customizable election types as per the needs of the customer. All types of customers, including corporates, colleges, cooperatives, trusts, associations, media houses, governments can conduct elections on Right2Vote. Different types of elections including board elections, creditors voting, shareholders voting, club elections, student elections, apartment association voting and many more can be configured on the platform with ease. With over 20,000 elections conducted and more than 14 million voters served, Right2Vote demonstrates robust scalability and adaptability, making it a reliable choice for diverse electoral needs.
Auditability & Transparency
Transparency is essential for building trust in any election process. Right2Vote enhances transparency by maintaining real-time audit logs that record key details such as voter login IDs, IP addresses and time of voting. As an optional premium feature, voter’s image and geo location can also be captured and provided with the vote record for audit purposes. This comprehensive tracking ensures that every action is documented and verifiable.
To further increase trust, Right2Vote provides voter-verified ballots. After casting their votes, voters receive receipts confirming their submissions, allowing them to verify that their choices have been accurately recorded. This feature empowers voters to have confidence in the integrity of their votes.
Additionally, Right2Vote offers transparent result tabulation. Once an election concludes, results are instantly generated and published, minimising human intervention and reducing the potential for errors or tampering. These combined features address concerns about vote manipulation and reinforce the overall integrity of the election process.
Reliable Technical Support
Technical issues can disrupt elections if not promptly addressed. Right2Vote offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring assistance is available throughout the election process. The platform provides live demos and training resources to familiarise users with the system and facilitates quick issue resolution through easy-to-reach representatives. Conducting demo elections before the actual vote helps build voter confidence and ensures a smooth experience.
Cost-Effectiveness
Budget considerations are crucial when selecting an election platform. Right2Vote offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Their basic package starts at ₹10,000 for up to 200 voters, covering standard features like secret ballot, audit trail, voter receipts and instant results. For elections exceeding 200 voters, the cost is ₹25 per additional voter. Optional premium features such as voter selfies, double authentication and geo-tagging are available at additional charges, allowing organizations to customize their elections according to specific needs. Right2Vote also provides one free demo, enabling organizations to test the platform before committing. This straightforward and flexible pricing structure makes Right2Vote an affordable choice for all kinds of elections whether big or small, whether simple or complex, whether casual or sensitive, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising on quality or security.
Reputation & Success Stories
Evaluating a platform’s past track record is essential to understanding its reliability and effectiveness. Right2Vote has successfully facilitated numerous elections, demonstrating its capability and trustworthiness.
For instance, the Management Development Institute (MDI) in Gurgaon transitioned its alumni elections to Right2Vote’s online platform. This move significantly increased participation, as alumni could vote conveniently from any location, eliminating the need for physical presence.
Similarly, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) Employees Trust shifted from traditional paper ballots to Right2Vote’s digital system. This change not only streamlined the voting process but also enhanced efficiency and turnout among employees spread across various locations.
These examples highlight Right2Vote’s ability to adapt to different organizational needs, ensuring secure, transparent and accessible elections.
Beware of Fraudulent Claims
Not all platforms claiming STQC certification are genuinely certified for online voting. Some may present unrelated certifications to mislead customers. To ensure authenticity, verify the certification scope to confirm it specifically covers online or remote electronic voting and request certificate numbers to cross-check with STQC or the issuing body for validation. Right2Vote’s certifications are transparent and verifiable, reinforcing its credibility.
Conclusion
Choosing the right online election platform is crucial for ensuring secure, transparent and efficient voting processes. Right2Vote stands out as a comprehensive solution, offering robust security measures like end-to-end encryption and multi-factor authentication. Its user-friendly interface ensures accessibility for all voters, regardless of their technical proficiency. The platform’s compliance with certifications such as STQC and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 underscores its commitment to maintaining high standards. With features supporting various election types and sizes, Right2Vote demonstrates scalability and flexibility. Its transparent pricing models and proven track record, including successful case studies, further enhance its credibility. Coupled with reliable technical support and a focus on accessibility, Right2Vote offers a cost-effective and trustworthy solution for diverse electoral needs.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
- Pricing
- Our customers
- Contact Us
As life continues its digital shift, where everything from banking to communication has undergone a technological transformation, the question of modernizing our electoral processes naturally arises. Internet voting or eVoting, stands as a compelling frontier, promising a blend of convenience, efficiency and potentially higher voter engagement. But as we explore this digital landscape, it’s crucial to weigh the exciting possibilities against the very real security challenges.
The Allure of eVoting: Convenience and Efficiency
It looks appealing. Imagine casting your ballot from the comfort of your home, during a time that suits you best. This is the promise of Remote Internet Voting (iVoting), one of the key methodologies within the eVoting spectrum. This enhanced accessibility can break down geographical and logistical barriers and potentially lead to a significant increase in voter turnout. Where we get around only 60-65% voter turnout in booth-based physical voting, by using internet voting, we can definitely reach around 90% voter turnout.
Mobile Voting (mVoting), utilizing dedicated apps or mobile-optimized websites, further enhances this convenience. While not internet-based, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), as used in India, represent an initial step towards electronic voting within the controlled environment of polling stations. Even mail-in ballots (postal ballots) showcase the desire for remote participation. But it takes too much time and money.
The benefits extend beyond mere convenience. Implementing internet voting systems can lead to cost efficiency by reducing the need for extensive physical polling infrastructure and the printing of countless paper ballots. Moreover, the digital nature of eVoting promises time savings in both the casting and counting of votes, also delivering quicker and more efficient election results. The reduced paper usage also aligns with environmental sustainability efforts.
Right2Vote online election platform
In India, platforms like Right2Vote are pioneering the implementation of eVoting. As a government-approved platform, certified by STQC under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Right2Vote showcases the potential of secure and efficient online elections. With over a decade of experience, they have successfully conducted thousands of elections annually for diverse organizations.
Right2Vote employs a multi-layered security approach, including multi-factor authentication, geo-tagging and geo-fencing to prevent fraudulent activities, comprehensive audit trails for transparency, and voter receipts to ensure voter trust. Their user-friendly interface caters to a wide range of technological proficiencies.
The impact reported by organizations using Right2Vote is significant, with some witnessing a dramatic change in voter turnout (from 50-65% to over 90%), substantial cost reductions (up to 90%) and remarkable time efficiency in conducting elections. These figures underscore the transformative potential of a well-implemented eVoting system.
The Shadow of Cyber Security: A Critical Counterpoint
However, the journey towards widespread internet voting is not without significant hurdles, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity.
One of the fundamental challenges lies in establishing secure digital credentials for all voters. While Estonia’s use of electronic ID cards offers a potential model, the lack of a unified national ID system in many countries, like the historical resistance in the US, presents a significant obstacle.
Furthermore, ensuring the secrecy and freedom of the ballot in an online environment is a complex task. The risk of coercion, where individuals could be pressured or incentivized to vote in a particular way, is amplified outside the controlled environment of a physical polling booth.
Every voter’s device becomes a potential entry point for malicious actors (hackers). Client malware could manipulate votes without the voter’s knowledge.
Cryptographic solutions and features like the server confirmation, which allows voters to verify their vote without revealing their choice, offer promising avenues. Public trust in the security of these systems and the potential for deliberate disruption remain critical concerns.
How Right2Vote’s eVoting technology demonstrates the successful implementation of eVoting in specific contexts with stringent security protocols.
Continued Innovation in Security Technologies
Right2Vote’s platform is rigorously tested and certified by the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. It has also received approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). These certifications, first obtained in 2019 and renewed in 2022 and 2025, affirm the platform’s commitment to security and quality standards.
The platform employs end-to-end encryption, secure authentication mechanisms like OTP-based authentication and Secret Ballot, where no one knows who voted for whom and transparent Audit Trails to ensure the integrity of the voting process.
Building Public Trust Through Education and Transparency
To increase user confidence, Right2Vote provides comprehensive educational resources, including guiding videos and live demonstrations, before each election. These initiatives ensure that voters are comfortable and familiar with the technology, enhancing transparency and trust in the eVoting process.
Successful Implementation
Over the past 10 years, Right2Vote has successfully conducted approximately 20,000 elections across various sectors, including housing societies, corporate boards, student unions, trade associations, doctors’ associations and NGOs etc . This extensive experience demonstrates the platform’s scalability and adaptability, making it a viable option for broader adoption.
By integrating advanced security measures, prioritising user education, and leveraging extensive practical experience, Right2Vote exemplifies a robust model for implementing eVoting systems at a national scale.
Conclusion
Internet voting holds immense potential to modernize our democratic processes, making them more accessible and efficient. Internet voting technology is far superior than paper-based voting, EVM (Electronic Voting Machines) based electronic voting or any other booth-based voting method. Internet-based voting is superior not only because it saves cost, time and effort, but also because it ensures the right to vote to all. Internet voting substantially increases voter turnout as it makes it convenient for voters to vote anytime from anywhere. The success of Right2Vote’s election platform in India sets the standard for election technology for future elections. As we continue to upgrade to internet voting, a cautious yet innovative approach, prioritising security and public trust above all else, will be essential to ensure the integrity of our elections in the digital age. The fundamental right to vote must be both accessible and secure.
To know more about Right2Vote’s election technology, please refer:
- Government of India certificates
- Features for eVoting
- Security and safety
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- Our customers
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