Government examining proposal for introducing vote-counting machine

The Government is examining a proposal submitted by the Election Commission for introduction of a machine which can be used for counting of votes during polls.

These details were shared in the Rajya Sabha by Law Minister Salman Khurshid.

“The Election Commission has submitted a proposal for introduction of a machine called Totaliser in the counting of votes. The Government has not taken a considered view on the introduction of the Totaliser in the counting of votes as proposed by the Election Commission,” Khurshid said in reply to a question.

“Secrecy of votes being the essence of Indian democracy, that aspect will certainly be ascertained before introduction of any technological advancement in the voting or counting,” he said.

The Law Minister said the EC had told the Government that the Totaliser would add to the level of secrecy in voting.

“The Election Commission has further intimated that by the use of Totaliser, the purpose of mixing of votes at the time of counting would be substantially achieved, which would prevent the disclosure of the pattern of voting at a particular polling station,” Khurshid said.

In reply to another question, Khurshid informed the House that the Government has a proposal to create an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) but was yet to decide whether selection for these officers would be made under the Union Public Service Commission or through a separate Commission, created for this purpose.

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