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Bihar Becomes First in India to Roll Out Android-Based E-Voting for Municipal By-Elections

In a groundbreaking step towards electoral modernization, Bihar is ready to become the first Indian state to go for Android mobile-based electronic voting starting June 28, 2025. The state is carrying out a pilot project in the by-elections of municipal bodies at Buxar Nagar Parishad, the seats of deputy chief councillor and ward councillor. This pathbreaking project is not only a leap ahead in utilizing technology for governance but also a crucial test for digital democracy in India.

E-Voting

Digital Ballot through Mobile

The voting process will be done using two Android mobile applications. One, "e-Voting SECBHR", has been created by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), and the other has been made and will be operated by the Bihar State Election Commission. Both of these applications will take care of everything, ranging from verifying voters to safe casting of votes and storing encrypted votes.

According to officials, the votes that were cast on the app will be encrypted the moment they were cast and will not be able to be accessed until official counting starts on June 30. This protects both the privacy and authenticity of each vote. The initiative is being described as a futuristic move that could potentially transform India's electoral processes if proven successful.


What Is E-Voting and How Does It Work?

E-voting refers to the process of casting a vote using electronic devices—in this case, via Android smartphones. The system integrates advanced technologies like:

  • Blockchain for immutable record-keeping

  • Facial Recognition System (FRS) for voter identity verification

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for accurate and fast vote counting

  • Digital Locks for safeguarding virtual EVM strongrooms

  • Audit Trail System akin to Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) used in traditional EVMs

These technologies work in tandem to ensure authenticity, transparency, and tamper-proof voting.


Why Bihar Is Taking the E-Voting Route

The State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad, while speaking to Akashvani News, stated that the project mainly seeks to enhance voter turnout, particularly among those facing physical or logistical difficulties in accessing the polling booths. They are:

  • Migrant labourers and voters

  • Senior citizens and divyang (disabled) voters

  • Pregnant women

  • Seriously ill people

He also said that 10,000 have already registered for this online voting system, and as many as 50,000 voters will be able to vote without visiting polling stations.


Estonia the Sole Other Example

Worldwide, Estonia alone has been able to put in place a nationwide e-voting system for its elections. With India's adoption of a similar model, India finds itself on a very short list of nations that are testing tech-powered electoral reforms. The Bihar experiment is thus being watched intently, not only within India but also in international policy circles, as a possible case study of digital electoral reform.


Key Features of Bihar's E-Voting System

Let us examine the key features which make the pilot e-voting system secure as well as revolutionary:

  • Mobile-First Voting: Two dedicated Android applications are used by users to vote.

  • High-End Security: Use of blockchain, face match verification, liveness detection, and audit trail mechanisms.

  • End-to-End Encryption: Votes are encrypted and safely stored until counting day.

  • User Accessibility: Designed for marginalized, mobile, or disabled communities.

  • Digital Audit Trail: Provides complete transparency in the voting process, which can be verifiable and trusted.


The Buxar Nagar Parishad Election

All logistic and technological preparations for the by-elections have been made, DM Vidya Nand Singh has stated. There are 136 polling stations, with registered voters also being able to vote remotely through the app.

E-Voting Window: June 28, 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Vote Counting: June 30

Registration Closed On: June 22, 2025

Singh noted that the mobile apps employed for this task provide security as well as voter confidentiality, a crucial element in ensuring electoral integrity.


Advantages of E-Voting for Indian Democracy

The transition to mobile-based voting has a number of benefits:

Enhanced Accessibility

E-voting allows for involvement from voters traditionally disenfranchised because of mobility, location, or health issues. It also accommodates migrant workers who cannot afford to go back home simply to cast their votes.


Enabling the Youth

Youthful, first-time, and tech-literate voters tend to view mobile-based systems as more accessible and easy to use. This may create early adoption and civic habituation.


Increase in Voter Turnout

By reducing the effort and time needed, electronic voting can increase voter turnout considerably, particularly among urban and rural voters who cannot easily access polling stations.


Concerns and Challenges Ahead

Albeit with numerous benefits, the system is not free of criticisms:

  • Cybersecurity Risks: As with any electronic system, e-voting can remain susceptible to hacking, tampering, or malware.

  • Risk of Coercion: Home voting may undermine the autonomy of voter choices, particularly within family or social groups.

  • Digital Divide: Non-smartphone-owning, non-internet-connected, digitally illiterate citizens could end up being excluded.

  • Experts contend that for this to be successful at scale, digital inclusivity and robust data protection structures must be guaranteed.


A New Era for Elections in India?

The rollout of e-voting in Bihar is a milestone moment in India's democratic practices. Although this is only a pilot program, its successful roll-out could lead to nationwide adoption, especially for local body elections and NRIs or migrant constituents.


But the success of this project will hinge on public confidence, protection of data, and computer literacy. If Bihar's experiment is well accepted, it can very well establish the model for electoral reforms in the future in India.

Stay tuned to AndroBranch for real-time updates, tech analysis, and in-depth coverage of India’s evolving digital landscape.

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