Outlook Business Desk
For the first time in India, Bihar is set to roll out Android-based mobile e-voting on June 28 for municipal by-elections in Buxar. Citizens will cast their votes remotely using smartphones for deputy chief and ward councillor posts.
The e-voting pilot will use two mobile apps. First 'e-Voting SECBHR' developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and another app by the Bihar State Election Commission, enabling secure, remote participation for eligible voters.
The e-voting system will include an audit trail like the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) used with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). It also integrates Face Recognition System (FRS), Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for vote counting, digital locks for strongrooms and blockchain-based security to ensure transparency and safety.
State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad earlier this month told Akashvani that 10,000 voters have already registered for e-voting. A total of 50,000 eligible citizens will be able to cast their votes remotely without visiting polling stations.
Deepak Prasad said the system is designed to benefit migrant workers, elderly citizens, 'Divyang' (disabled) voters, pregnant women and the seriously ill, allowing them to vote remotely with ease.
According to the State Election Commissioner, only Estonia in Europe has successfully implemented e-voting so far. Bihar's marks India’s first step toward adopting this advanced electoral technology.
By making the process more accessible and convenient, it is expected to increase overall voter participation and strengthen democratic engagement.
As per DM Vidya Nand Singh, all arrangements are in place for a fair e-voting process. Registration closed on June 22, 2025. Voting will be open from 7 am to 1 pm on June 28 across 136 polling stations. Counting will take place on June 30.