Patna: In a significant move towards digital democracy, the Bihar State Election Commission has announced that voters can now cast their ballots for municipal elections through a mobile phone application. Chief Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad revealed that this system will be implemented in three districts where polling is scheduled on Saturday for six municipal council posts.
This initiative is primarily designed for voters unable to reach polling booths due to various reasons. Eligible users include pregnant women, migrant workers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. The mobile voting app, currently compatible with Android devices only, uses facial recognition, blockchain technology, and advanced scanning systems to ensure tamper-proof voting.
According to officials, more than 10,000 voters have already signed up for the app. An awareness campaign on app-based voting was conducted from June 10 to 22. The Election Commission estimates that nearly 50,000 voters could make use of this facility without visiting polling booths. However, it remains unclear whether this technology will be extended to the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.