NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner H S Brahma on Friday said the Election Commission would shortly start the ground work for facilitating NRIs to vote from abroad through electronic postal ballots, and added that the facility shall also be extended to the Armed force personnel.
Speaking to newspersons soon after taking over as CEC, Brahma said that even as the government and Parliament amends the law to extend voting rights to NRIs at their country of residence within the 8-week deadline set by Supreme Court, the EC would start preparations at its end for rolling out the facility.
Brahma, who succeeded V S Sampath after he demitted office on Thursday, said e-postal ballots would be sent electronically to the NRIs by the concerned district election officer but would have to be posted back as a hard copy.
Listing his priorities, Brahma said it was his personal endeavor to use the latest technologies to improve the quality of election management. As a first step, he said, the EC planned to launch the Electronic Roll Management System (ERMS) coinciding with the National Voters' Day on January 25.
ERMS will enable internet users across the country to view the complete voters' list and allow them to see details such as the constituency in which they are registered and the polling station where they must vote.
Stating that he was "humbled and honoured with the great opportunity and responsibility entrusted to me by our government and my country", the new CEC said he would strive to uphold the "gold standard of election management of our great country".
"My first priority and mission objective is to ensure that we conduct the election to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in an absolutely free and fair manner," he added.
While listing "delivery of excellence" as EC's long-term goal, Brahma also resolved to improve quality, transparency and speed through the use of digital technology and internet in election management.
http://ift.tt/1CuKWvQ S Brahma,electronic postal ballot,armed forces personnel
Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.
No comments:
Post a Comment