Bypolls: From webcasting at 100% polling stations to mobile deposit facility, EC marks several firsts
NEW DELHI: The bypolls to five assembly seats on Thursday across Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal recorded several firsts, including faster voter turnout updates, webcasting at 100% polling stations and provision of mobile deposit facility at polling stations.
The assembly constituencies (ACs) , which witnessed moderate-to-high polling, include Kadi (SC) and Visavadar in Gujarat, Nilambur in Kerala, Ludhiana West in Punjab and Kaliganj in West Bengal.
'The bye-polls...witnessed successful implementation of several major new initiatives launched by the ECI in the past four months, as envisaged by the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi,' EC said in a statement issued at the end of poll.
An initiative introduced in these bye-polls is the provision of mobile deposit facility for the electors at all polling stations. Upgraded voter turnout sharing process ensured faster availability of approximate polling trends by ensuring that the presiding officer updated the voter turnout data at the close of poll, prior to leaving the polling station. Webcasting facility at almost all polling stations helped ensure constant vigil of the polling process.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Experts Urge Seniors With Muscle Loss To Take This Key Nutrient Daily
Native Creatine
Learn More
Undo
Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the electoral rolls was conducted before the bye-polls for the first time in nearly two decades.
The successful implementation of the above-mentioned measures in the bye-polls paves the way for their replication in the ensuing Bihar assembly election.
For the first time, simple pigeonhole boxes or jute bags were provided at the entrance door of the polling stations to enable the voters to deposit their mobile phones before queueing up to vote.
Volunteers were deployed at the polling stations to facilitate the process.
The presiding officer of each polling station, in a first, entered the voter turnout on the new ECINET App every two hours on polling day, reducing the time lag in updating of approximate polling trends. This was automatically aggregated at the constituency level. Also, voter turnout data was entered into ECINET by presiding officers immediately before they left the polling station after completion of poll, to ensure that the approximate percentage of votes polled was available on the app constituency-wise after the close of poll.
Previously, voter turnout data was collected manually by sector officers and relayed to returning officers (ROs) via phone calls, SMS, or messaging apps. At the close of poll, the presiding officer used to update the final VTR data after completing all other statutory responsibilities. Thus, the polling percentage trends were often updated hours later.
The Commission has ensured 100% webcasting of poll-day activities at all polling stations, except one, in the five bye-poll ACs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
US team may defer Aug 25 India visit for trade pact talks: Official
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) A US team, which was scheduled to visit India from August 25, for the next round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement is likely to defer the meeting to a later date, an official said. So far, five rounds of talks have been completed for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and a US team is scheduled to visit India for the sixth round of talks. The negotiations were scheduled from August 25-29. 'This visit is likely to be rescheduled," the official, who did not wish to be named, said. Deferment or rescheduling of the meeting assumes significance as the US has announced a staggering 50 per cent duty on Indian goods. The US is pressing for greater market access in politically sensitive areas such as agri and dairy sectors, which India cannot accept as it affects the livelihood of small and marginal farmers. India has stated that it will not compromise the interests of farmers and cattle rearers. The US and India have announced plans to conclude the first phase of BTA by fall (September-October) of 2025. The two countries are aiming at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, from the present USD 191 billion. While the 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods entering the US has come into effect from August 7, an additional 25 per cent, was announced on India as penalty for buying crude oil and military equipment from Russia, will come into effect from August 27. During April-July, the country's exports to the US increased 21.64 per cent to USD 33.53 billion, while imports rose 12.33 per cent to USD 17.41 billion, according to commerce ministry data. The US was the largest trading partner of India in the April-July period (USD 12.56 billion bilateral trade) 2025-26. India's exports to America are recording positive growth since April this year. PTI RR DRR view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
US makes major visa announcement for Gazans; Laura Loomer claimed Palestinian refugees flooding airports
US announces halting all visitors' visa from Gaza. The State Department made a major announcement of halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza for the time being, as it conducts a full and thorough review of the "process and procedures" used to issue medial-humanitarian visas in recent days. 'All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,' the department wrote in a statement posted to X. The announcement came after MAGA activist Laura Loomer ranted for a day how Palestinians have been entering the country via a humanitarian organization through various airports. Loomer questioned how so many Palestinians were getting visa from the State Department. Loomer said she obtained video footage of Palestinians who claim to be refugees from Gaza coming into the US via San Francisco and Houston. "The Palestinians traveled from Gaza to the US with the help of a group called 'Heal Palestine'. How did Palestinians get visas under the Trump administration to get into the United States? Did @StateDept approve this? How did they get out of Gaza? Is @SecRubio aware of this?" Loomer ranted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo According to Heal Palestine's website, it has successfully evacuated 148 total Gazans, including 63 injured children, bringing them to the U.S. for medical care. Loomer said the administration needed to shut this before a family member of one of these Gazans turn rogue and kills Americans for Hamas. 'Deeply concerned about the incoming flights - including to Texas - allegedly filled with folks from Gaza as reported by @LauraLoomer. Inquiring,' Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) wrote on Friday. Earlier this month, France suspended evacuations from Gaza after a Palestinian student allegedly shared a social media post with an image of Adolf Hitler that called for killing Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told France Info radio that the woman "must leave the country" and that she "has no place" in France. "No evacuation of any kind will take place until we have drawn the necessary conclusions from this investigation," Barrot said in the interview.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kesineni Sivanath reelected ACA president, Sana Satish Babu named Secretary
Vijayawada: Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) and Rajya Sabha MP Sana Satish Babu were elected as the new president and secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). They will lead the apex body for the 2025–2028 term. The ACA general body meeting took place at the Vijayawada Club in Tadepalli on Saturday, where members unanimously elected a new committee. Along with Sivanath and Satish Babu, Dandamudi Srinivas was chosen as treasurer, B Vijay Kumar as joint secretary and Dandu Gaur Vishnu Tej as councillor. The elections proceeded smoothly without any competition. Speaking to the media after his election, Sivanath said the new committee would focus on strengthening cricket infrastructure and improving player support. "We will work to further enhance the prestige of ACA in the next three years. Players in the state will be provided better facilities, including professional coaches and support staff to prepare them for platforms like the IPL," he said. He added that the Andhra Premier League in Vizag would be promoted further and assured that decisions would be taken transparently, ensuring no inconvenience to ACA members. Secretary Sana Satish Babu echoed similar views, thanking the members for unanimously electing the new body. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Comfortable Cotton-Linen Shorts Every Man Needs— 50% OFF Today Only lininco Undo "ACA has taken many revolutionary decisions in the last 11 months, and in the next three years, we will make bold decisions on funding, sending players to competitions, appointing coaches, and developing stadiums," he said. He also clarified that the post of vice-president remains vacant after the lone nomination of Bandara Narasimha Rao was rejected due to incorrect documentation. Elections for the post will be conducted in Sept. Former ACA joint secretary and MLA Vishnu Kumar Raju also attended the meeting, which concluded with a pledge to take Andhra cricket to greater heights. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
