Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi on Sunday said internet voting may not be possible in the country, at least in the near future, for security reasons-of the internet as well as the voter.
He was responding to a question in this regard at an interactive session on the National Voters Day here. Mr. Quraishi, who started the National Voters’ Day in 2011, said internet security is one of the major issues threatening online voting. At the same time, the issue of security to the voter who votes from individual premises is also the issue. While a voter exercises franchise under security in a polling booth, the same would not be available at individual premises, he said.
To another question on restraining persons with business interests entering legislatures, Mr. Quraishi said it is not possible. Election Commission’s concerted efforts to contain money power in polls are yielding results; but complete results are yet to be available. While state-funding of polls might only improve the kitty of contestants, the Commission might consider ban on corporate funding of political parties. Parties may be funded by the government proportionate to the votes they get, he said.
In his speech earlier, Mr. Quraishi said compulsory voting too is not possible in India as democracy and force cannot go together. Experiences in Australia where compulsory voting is in practice have showed that only about 90 per cent of the electorate exercised its franchise while the government incurred substantial expenditure in collecting fines from those not voting. In India, persuasive measures are yielding results with many states recording voting beyond 80 per cent and Tripura 93 per cent, he said. Stress is on voter education and enrolling more young voters, Mr. Quraishi said.
With the EC focusing more on enrolment of youngsters, over five crore voters were added in the last four years covering about 70 per cent of the young electorate, he said. It might take another year to completely cover the young electorate.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, Zilla Panchayat CEO Thulasi Maddineni, Superintendent of Police D.S. Sharanappa, Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Hepsiba Rani Korlaputi and others were present.
