Telangana: SEC to allow e-voting on pilot basis in GHMC polls

Telangana State Election Commission will allow e-voting on a pilot basis in GHMC polls. State Election Commissioner C Parthasarathi said that the idea of e-voting came about because of the pandemic.

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday decided to allow e-voting on a pilot basis for polling personnel, those in quarantine due to COVID-19 and senior citizens in the coming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.

State Election Commissioner C Parthasarathi discussed the technical issues involved, the method of registering for e-voting and voting online while adhering to the norms of secrecy of voting with state Principal Secretary (IT) Jayesh Ranjan and other officials, an official release said.

The Commission requested the officials to give a demonstration on the software to be used, it said.

Ranjan was requested to get the requisite orders passed by the government for taking up e-voting, it said.

Parthasarathi said that the idea of e-voting came about because of the pandemic.

The Commission would first define as to who can opt for e-voting, he said, adding steps would be taken using technology to ensure requisite secrecy of the process.

"The Commission is thinking of scaling up the method of e-voting in the coming Warangal and Khammam civic body polls based on its implementation in the GHMC polls," the release said.

The GHMC polls are likely to take place before the expiry of the term of the present body in early February 2021.

PTI