Rapid Fire
India's First Mobile E-Voting in Bihar
- 01 Jul 2025
- 2 min read
Bihar became the first Indian state to pilot mobile phone-based e-voting in municipal elections using the E-SECBHR app developed by C-DAC. The initiative aimed to improve voting access for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.
- To ensure security and transparency, the system used blockchain technology, facial recognition, biometric scanning, voter ID verification, and limited 2 voters per mobile number.
Recent ECI Electoral Reforms & Privacy Safeguards
- Restriction on Public Access to Polling Booth CCTV Footage: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has restricted public access to CCTV, webcast, and videography footage of polling stations citing voter privacy and security. As per new rules:
- Destruction of footage is mandated 45 days after result declaration, unless a petition is filed.
- Footage can only be submitted to a High Court hearing an election petition & no other authority or individual may access it as public release may violate Section 128 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 (secrecy of voting) and Supreme Court rulings that uphold ballot secrecy.
- ECI clarified that videography is not legally mandated, and is used only as an internal management tool.
- In December 2024, Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended to exclude CCTV and electronic footage from public inspection.
- New Voter-Friendly Measures: In bye-elections across 5 Assembly Constituencies, ECI introduced new initiatives to improve transparency and voter convenience, including:
- Mobile deposit facility for voters
- Real-time voter turnout reporting via the ECINET App
- 100% webcasting (except one station)
- Individual mock poll training for all Presiding Officers
- Conducted Special Summary Revision (SSR) to revise the electoral rolls, for the first time in nearly 20 years.
| Read More: Electoral Reforms in India |
