How Are Kiosks Aiding Politics?
11th July 2011 / Tom Quarry
Kiosk technology has helped many industry sectors improve customer service and better staff efficiency and it seems now that the affairs of the state is getting involved too. Citizens in Mumbai, India will soon be able to vote for their government and do their part for politics via an e-kiosk. The population can cast their vote through the e-smart kiosk after the state election commission considered the possibility of setting up touch screens at various spots across the city to encourage more people to vote. People who are physically challenged, pregnant or are patients will find it easier to register themselves and cast their votes for next year’s civic elections. This is a fantastic use of touch screen technology to inspire more citizens to stand up and be counted in politics. In 2009 in India the voter turnout figures was just 58.19% and the general election figures in the UK in 2010 was just 65.1%. Kiosks such as this which provide easier ways for citizens to get involved are predicted to be a sure-fire way to boost the numbers who vote. With many voting times for elections during the day, in which most people are at work, units such as these which can be deployed across a town are perfect to ease the difficulties that come with finding time to vote. The State Election Commissioner, Neela Satyanarayan, agreed saying: “It’s true that we end up losing a majority of voters such as pregnant women, patients, senior citizens, physically challenged, among others as they can’t personally visit the polling booth and exercise their franchise. This e-voting will enable such voters to exercise their franchise without any hassle.” The company that manufactured the electronic voting machines (EVMs) is the Electronic Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL). The machines work by featuring a printer which prints out the voting strip which is then collected in a sealed box below the printer for security reasons. A hologram sticker will be on each unit to make them safe and secure. The facilities will be demonstrated to political parties, government and the election commission of India, media and the general public before implementation. Satyanarayan added: “In 2012 civic elections, we will use holograms on voting machines. Their numbers will be recorded on our servers. If any attempt to tamper or shift the machine is made, we will come to know about it almost immediately.”