METHOD OF VOTING (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) announced that out of 97.8 crore eligible voters, 49.72 crore are male and 47.1 crore are female, emphasizing that electors can now cast their votes using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and postal ballots.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVM)

• About: EVMs facilitate candidate selection through button presses.
• Comprises two sections: Control Unit and Voting Unit connected by a 5-meter cable.
• Operation: Control unit selected by the Election Commission, assigned to a polling officer.
• Voting Unit placed in the voting area for voters to cast their ballots discreetly.
• Voting Capacity: EVMs record a maximum of 2,000 votes.
• Candidate Accommodation: M2 EVMs can accommodate up to 64 candidates, including NOTA.
• Developed by: Election Commission collaborated with two Public Sector Organizations: Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore, and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad.
• Both companies actively involved in the production of EVMs.

Postal Ballot Voting

• About: It is also known as absentee voting, allows electors to cast their ballots by mail instead of in person at a polling station, offering convenience for various circumstances.
• Eligibility: Different categories of eligible voters include service voters, absentee voters, electors on election duty, and electors under preventive detention.
• Applying for Postal Ballot: To apply for a postal ballot, eligible voters must submit Form 12 D to the returning officer of their constituency, with specific procedures for different groups like service voters and senior citizens.
• Process of Casting the Postal Vote: The process involves receiving the postal ballot, marking it, completing a declaration form, sealing the envelope, and returning it through designated channels.
• Counting of Postal Ballots: Postal ballots are counted separately, with procedures for collection, scrutiny, and integration into the overall vote count on the designated counting day.