Electronically transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS)

Electronically transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS)
•The ETPBS was recently used in Chengannur (Kerala) Assembly by polls.
•The developed System is implemented inline with the existing Postal Ballot System. 
•The purpose of the online system is to create convenient and easy-to-use online system for Defense Personnel to become Service Voters.
•The system is based on a relational database with registration and acceptance of forms for Service Voter.
 
Government of India Decision
•The Government has issued Notification on 21st October, 2016 amending rule 23 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 enabling service voters, including armed forces personnel, to cast their vote in elections through e-postal ballot.
•The armed forces personnel serving in remote and border areas would be greatly benefitted since the present system of two-way transmission of ballot paper by the postal services has not been able to meet the expectations of the service voters.
 
About ETPBS
•Electronically transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) is developed by Election Commission of India with the help of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), for the use of the Service Voters.
•It is a fully secured system, having two layers of security. Secrecy is maintained through the use of OTP and PIN and no duplication of casted Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot (ETPB) is possible due to the unique QR Code
•This system enables the entitled service voters to cast their vote using an electronically received postal ballot from anywhere outside their constituency.
•The voters who make such a choice will be entitled for Postal Ballot delivered through Electronic Media for a particular election.
•Voters can download the postal ballot and print the blank postal ballot. After marking his vote in the blank postal ballot, the same would be returned to the concerned Returning Officer by post as in the present system of postal ballot.
 
Salient Features of ETPBS
•Service voters can avail this service from anywhere outside their constituency.
•System facilitates creation of service voter electoral roll data.
•Easy, Efficient and Hassle free
•It is a secure system, having two layer security
•OTP is required to download encrypted Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot file.
•Secrecy is maintained and no duplicate of casted ETPB is possible due to QR code.
•PIN is required to decrypt, print and deliver ETPB.
 
How one can vote in India?
•Voting can be done in three ways
     •In person
     •By Post
     •Through a proxy
•Under proxy voting, a registered voter can delegate his voting powers to a representative.
•A service voter can also vote by postal ballot
•In 2017, Lokshabha allowed proxy voting by Non Resident Indian
 
Class of Electors who are eligible for ETPBS
•Service Voters, other than those who opt for proxy voting (as specified in Representation of People’s Act, 1950)
•The wife of a Service Voter who ordinarily resides with him
•Overseas Voters
 
Service Voters
•Members of Armed Forces of Union
•Member of forces to which provisions of Army Act 1950 applies.
•Member of Armed Police Force of a State and serving outside State
•Persons who are employed by GoI in a post outside India



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