Turning smart, the Election Commission (EC) is going the “e-way” for not just conducting first of its kind “paperless” polls in the country, but also monitoring the election process throughout the State from its control room.
Making the most out of the evolving technological advancements, the poll panel has launched numerous mobile applications to “save time and improve efficiency”.
“In this election, we are making the most use of the technology. To remove all the paperwork, and to save time and improving the work efficiency, we have launched a mobile app — RO Net — which will be primarily be facilitating our returning officers,”
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh told The Pioneer.
“Earlier, returning officers used to do all the work manually like preparing loads of reports, then sending it was a big job…now, everything would be done via this app. This election is going to be paperless,” he said, adding that this app would leverage IT technology and smart phones for easy access and reporting.
He said this app would reduce burden of reporting for each task on both ends of sending and seeking.
Singh added the app would be used as a pilot project in Punjab, and may be adopted across country by the Commission if proved successful. He added another app — ECI360 — which would be of great help not only to the polling staff but to each voter, the media and the candidates.
The two apps, which is available both on iOS and Android systems, has been developed by ludhiana-based IT firm, 01 Synergy, “which is something to be very proud of”, said Singh.
For the benefit of voters, candidates, election staff as well as the Election Commission of India (ECI), the district administration ludhiana has developed a mobile application named “ECI360”.
Already, to ensure that election process is conducted smoothly, the poll watchdog has launched three IT-based systems: Samadhan — an online grievance registration and redress system, Suvidha — a single window system for political parties and candidates seeking different permissions during the electioneering phase, and Sugam — a vehicle management system for managing vehicles diverted or requisitioned from other departments during election period for election work.
Besides, the commission has also released an integrated mobile app — ECI Apps on Google Play — that consists of all information regarding election dates, polling booths, electioneering, and voter facilitation in a push to enable more transparency and voter involvement in the upcoming elections.
RONet
“In the election process, the returning officers (RO) play a significant role as they are responsible for not only holding elections and returning the candidate but also overseeing the entire election management process in the constituency,” said Singh.
“Moreover, various things like ethical voting, facilitating a smoother, making the voting experience convenient, this all has increased RO’s responsibilities. So, this app would help the ROs to know what exactly they are required to do and when, and that too without weighing them down with additional reporting forms,” he added.
He said that this would be an “aid to the ROs and other functionaries”.
“In RoNET, all tasks are time-defined, the supervisory functionaries, right up to the ECI, will not only get the details of all tasks performed but also exactly how they were performed. It will also enable them to intervene in places where tasks were not performed, or on checking found to be incorrectly performed,” said the election official.
ECI 360
ECI 360 would help bring transparency, accountability and empower the citizens regarding the elections and voting. The user-friendly app would be used by the ECI, CEO, DEO, ROs, candidates, political parties, supervisors, PROs, SSPs or COPs, election teams and the media.
The app has been divided into different sections such as voter, candidate, SVEEP, admin, besides others.
EC’s THIRD EYE
A third eye will keep a watch on all 117 constituencies. It has introduced a mobile car for each assembly constituency to monitor different areas.
“A total of 117 units have been operationalized, one in each constituency. There is one camera fitted mobile vehicle which will be on move for the entire day and the direct video feed can be monitored in the CEO’s office in Chandigarh,” said Singh.
He added, “The picture quality is good, and this would helo us monitoring and supervising from the head office. Right now, it is being monitored the entire day…we have a team for it…and in the last two days, it will work 24X7.”