Karnataka   

A phoney proof of voting

Bangalore/Mysore: A candidate can ply a voter with gifts and money and ask him to vote in his favour.

But once inside the booth, is the voter the master of his own will?

No longer, thanks to technology. In a novel practice, voters in come constituencies in the local body elections conducted on Friday were asked to produce “proof” of having voted in their favour, and were duly rewarded.

Many voters carried mobile phones with cameras (provided by the candidates and their supporters, of course) into the booth and clicked as they cast votes.

They produced this as proof of having voted for a candidate and collected “remuneration” ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 for proof of loyalty.

This was seen particularly in Mysore City Corporation and other constituencies in Mysore district.

This novel methodology was seen by many candidates as a reliable form of exit poll, considering that the old method relied on only on the honesty of the voter interviewed.

The picture taken on the camera phone provided a reliable set of figures and data to predict the results or make last minute efforts to turn the tide in their favour.

Although not perceived to have taken place on a large scale, the “potential” of this technology had been proved, according to an observer. While there was no official confirmation or denial of the use of mobile phones with cameras during polling, it was pointed out that there was no way to monitor its use and hence must have gone unnoticed.

But a few voters did confide that they were paid for taking the photograph of ballot paper after affixing the seal.

Although mobile phones are not allowed inside the booth as per the regulations, there is nobody doing a body check in any booth.

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A phoney proof of voting

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