27.3.21

E-voting possible by 2024 general elections: CEC

Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora said e-voting could be a part of changes that are likely to be implemented in the next general elections in 2024.

Stating that the Election Commission of India along with IIT Madras is working on blockchain technology for remote voting, the CEC said significant developments in e-voting are expected by 2024.

Speaking to IPS trainees at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad on Friday, the CEC said: “Though ‘one nation-one election’ is desirable, it is difficult to achieve till the basic laws are amended.” He also stressed that political consensus must be arrived at before pushing for simultaneous polls at national and state levels.

Sunil Arora said the commission is working on linking Aadhaar card with voter ID as part of electoral reforms.

Replying to a question of one of the IPS probationers on ‘one nation-one election’ theory, Sunil Arora said: “One nation-one election is a desirable goal. Unless you align the life of Parliament with the life of the state legislatures by amendments of the law, it cannot happen.”

The NPA has decided to deploy trainee IPS officers in the upcoming elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam to give on-field experience to the probationers. The CEC said two senior officials were appointed as police observers due to law and order issues that arise in West Bengal. He also said Assam has law and order issues on its borders.

He further said: “Tamil Nadu being expenditure-sensitive state, we have appointed two special expenditure observers with a clean track record to curb money flow.”

Sunil Arora was addressing the 73 batch of regular recruitees of IPS probationers at the NPA ahead of their participation in the conduct of elections in four states and Puducherry. There were 28 women probationers and 17 foreign police officials among 120 who attended the programme.


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