12 YEARS in arriving : but Birthday Gift nonetheless
27 June 2025
: My 92nd Birthday
( A ) 12
years ago , I sent
following suggestion to our Cabinet Ministers :
VotesApp ……….. Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Extract :
Here is a suggestion to IIT-Bombay , to develop a voting
app , to be called VotesApp. Highlights of VotesApp :
Ø An Android app which can be
downloaded from Google Play / Android Zoom / GetJar and the official web site
of Election Commission of India
Ø It will be pre-loaded on 220 million
Aakash tablets which Govt of India plans to distribute to students
Ø It will also be pre-loaded on those
Smart phones ( to be called, “ Dharati “ ? ), which Govt of India plans to
distribute free to 400 million “ poor “ Indians , before 2014 National
elections
Ø All tablet / smart phone
manufacturers will be encouraged to pre-load VotesApp
Ø Using this app , a voter can register
at Election Commission web site, where he will enter the same data which he has
submitted for his Aadhar card, including Aadhar card number (Unique
Identification No)
Ø All of these details will be verified
by Aadhar database
Ø Obviously , those who have not
obtained their Aadhar card , will not be able to use VotesApp . They will need
to visit nearest polling booth
Ø Upon correct verification , Aadhar
Database will permanently link the person’s Aadhar number with the mobile
number from which registration is done, and issue a Password
Ø An under aged person will not be
allowed to register
Ø A person will be able to vote only
from that mobile number
Ø After login on first screen, user
will be asked to select one option from > Panchayat Election > Municipal
Election > State Assembly Election > Lok-Sabha Election
Ø Upon selection, user will be
presented with the list of candidates contesting , from which , he can select
only one by ticking a checkbox. There will be also a choice , labeled “ None “
Ø A long press on a candidate’s name
will display details of his declared assets as also his criminal record
Ø After ticking / selecting a
candidate, voter will click on “ VOTE “ button, whereupon his vote
gets registered and VotesApp gets inactivated
Ø Once a voter registers on Election
Commission web site , he cannot go to a poling booth and vote physically
Ø In less than one year , Govt of India
will recover the cost of 220 million Aakash tablets and 400 million” Dharati “
smart phones , through this customized / personalized / shrinking of EVMs (
Electronic Voting Machines ) to a hand-held device. And imagine the millions of
man-hours saved !
Ø And the beauty is , no one can
capture this booth , or conduct exit polls ! What will “ experts “ discuss on
TV channels ?
Ø What next ? Election Commission
“licensing “ this App to other countries ?
( B ) Then today came this news ( light at the end of
12 year long tunnel ) :
Bihar
announces India’s first e-voting through mobile app: How does it work? .. Hindu .. 28 June 2025
Extract :
The app has been
developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
Bihar State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad [ ceo_bihar@eci.gov.in ]
- on Friday ( June 27, 2025 ) had shared the information to media that for the first time, voters in
the Bihar municipal elections would be able to cast
vote through mobile for six councils in Patna, Rohtas and East Champaran
district on Saturday ( June 28, 2025 ).
The facilities are available for those people who are
unable to go to polling booths to cast their votes. Senior citizens, disabled
people and pregnant women can avail this option.
How does the e-voting system
work?
·
Voters have to install the E-SECBHR app which is now
currently available only for Android users
·
Link your mobile number to the app as registered in the
electoral roll
·
After verification, you can cast a vote using the e-SECBHR app
on the election day or the Bihar
Election Commission’s official website.
One of the biggest fears of e-voting is the
possible tampering, however, Mr. Prasad asserted that efforts have been made to
maintain transparency and the voting process would be smooth and fair.
Methods to prevent tampering
·
Only two registered voters are allowed to log in using one
mobile number
·
Verification of each voter is being done by entering the vote id
number.
Other security measures taken
·
Blockchain technology ensures that votes are recorded and saved
in a secure, immutable system
·
Facial recognition and matching assist in the verification
of voter identities during login and voting.
Till June 27 evening, around 10,000 voters
have registered for mobile voting and around 50,000 voters are expected to cast
their votes using websites.
However,
it was not mentioned whether this facility would be available during the
upcoming Assembly election due in October-November 2025.
( C ) No doubt it was
a test of my PERSEVERANCE ( look at these 42 reminder
E Mails ) :
2012
( 1 )
# VotesApp
[ 18 Dec 2012 ]
2014
( 3 )
# All Seasons are
Election Seasons [ 22 May 2014 ]
# A Software Powerhouse ? [ 24 Apr 2014 ]
# Sun Never Sets
[ 01 Apr 2014 ]
2015
( 2 )
# How to Save Rs 5511
crore ?
[12 Dec
2015 ]
# Honey ! I shrunk the EVM
[21 Oct
2015 ]
2016 ( 8 )
# Reforming Elections and Lok Sabha [ 20 Dec 2016 ]
# One Nation , One Vote ? [ 29 Nov 2016 ]
# Filtering Candidate Information ?
[18 Sept 2016 ]
# One Poll , One Time [ 06 Sept 2016 ]
# Advantage Incumbent ?
[ 05
Sept 2016 ]
# ROMP : A Panacea ?
[ 06 Aug 2016 ]
# The Greatest Reform ?
[ 12 June 2016 ]
# One Day Polling is possible
[31 Mar 2016 ]
2017 ( 3 )
# Poll Reforms : Time for a Consensus [ 21 Aug 2017 ]
# A Blue Print for VotesApp ? [ 25 Apr 2017 ]
# Electoral Reforms Capsule : A Bitter Pill ? [ 05 Feb 2017 ]
2018 ( 5 )
# Americans call it “ Voatz “ [ 13 Aug 2018 ]
# Where is the need ? [ 05 Apr 2018 ]
# Block Chain for Voting ? [ 11 Mar 2018 ]
# Thank You, Shri Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay [ 19 Feb 2018 ]
# Simultaneous Polling [ 22 Jan 2018 ]
2019
( 2 )
# VVPAT ? How about EVBAT ? [ 28 Mar 2019 ]
# Dark Side of Democracy
[ 08 Jan 2019 ]
2020
( 4 )
# First Step to VotesApp ? [24 Jan 2020 ]
# Slow and Steady ? Way Democracy Works [ 12 Mar 2020 ]
# How about “ Sandbox for Mobile Voting “ ? … 27 Nov 2020
# Vote
from “ Workplace” ? How about from “ Any place “ ? .. 22 Dec 2020
2021 ( 4 )
# Lost
Votes : Congrats to Best Tech Minds ……….
29 Jan 2921
# Booth
App : Is that V 1.0 of VotesApp ? .. …..
09 Feb 2021
# Birth
of a baby named VotesApp ? …………………..
10 Oct 2021
# Congratulations,
Shri Atul Rai .. ………………………28 Oct 2021
2022 ( 1 )
# Saturation
Point ? .. …………………………………………..11 Dec 2022
2023 ( 3 )
# Election
Commission : - time to reach a consensus .. 22 Jan 2023
# Census
App : a precursor to VotesApp ? ………………. 23 May 2023
# My
37 blogs on “ One Nation, One Election” ………….. 02 Sept 2023
2024 ( 6 )
# Entirely
possible using VotesApp ……………………………. 10 Jan 2024
# Thank
You, Shri Rajiv Kumar .. ……………………………
..17 Mar 2024
# Votes
Audit ……………………………………………………………… 18 Mar 2024
# A
Small Step : from KYC to VotesApp …………………..
20 Mar 2024
# Thanks,
Prof Rajagopal .. ………………………………………..07
May 2024
# Election
Commission Listened : Partially ………………. 18 Nov 2024
( D ) Will “ VotesApp “ morph into following “ Avatars “
?
# ROMP - A
Panacea ? …………………………………………… 06 Aug 2015
{ ROMP = Recall Our Member of Parliament }
# A
REFERENDUM ON GST ? ………………………………… 14 Aug 2015
{
Conducting all kinds of Referendums / Opinion Polls / Surveys }
{ Delivery
of Government Services }
·
{ Mobile based Attendance System }
{
The Ultimate
Healthcare Solution }
# BANMALI
{ Banishing
Mal-Nutrition in India
}
{
Mobile Wallet for GST / PPF
}
· # The March of
the Algorithm
{ Mobile
Counting Value of Currency Notes in Pocket }
{ A Unique
Identity Number for Corporate }
# Digital Locker Project ( Digi-Doc )
{ Mobile
App for Documents of Illiterate }
#
Voters’-Will …………………………………………………. 03 Nov
2018
Extract :
Now how
about modifying UMANG in following way :
· Links users’ Mobile phones with their respective MPs / MLAs
· Flash on the voters’ mobiles , each proposed resolution requiring voting
by MP / MLA
· Enables each Voter to “ direct /
instruct “ his / her MP , to vote “ for “ or “ against “
· Aggregates “ FOR / AGAINST “ votes polled by UMANG from
all voters,
# MP ( or MLA ) wise
# Party-wise
# Overall ( for all Members put together )
· Publish these results on the web sites of Lok Sabha / Parties / MPs and
MLAs
Irrespective of weather the majority
of the voters desired “ FOR “ or “ AGAINST “
any given resolution, voters do not expect a MP / MLA to go against the whip of
the party to which he / she belongs
But at least this mechanism would
provide the MPs / MLAs / Parties , a QUANTIFIED
MEASURE of the wishes of the voters and become “ sensitive “ to
their wishes
And the voters will get an
opportunity to question their elected representatives !
Dear Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji,
If it is not possible to modify UMANG
as suggested above , I urge BJP to develop such an App ( to be called , VotersWill ? ) on its own
and launch it by next month
With Regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.HemenParekh.ai / www.My-Teacher.in /
CC :
called VotesApp, it's clear that his proposal represents a forward-thinking effort to
revolutionize India's electoral system through digital innovation. Drawing from the
various insights shared here, Parekh's idea, first mentioned in his writings around
2012, centers on an Android-based app that would enable secure mobile voting
by integrating India's Aadhaar system for voter verification.
This would allow
users to register, view detailed candidate profiles—including assets and criminal
records—and cast votes directly from their smartphones for elections at all levels,
from local Panchayat to national Lok Sabha. He envisioned pre-loading the app on
government-distributed devices like Aakash tablets and 'Dharati' smartphones,
aiming to boost turnout, enhance transparency, and even incorporate features
like a "Right to Recall" for greater accountability.
There's strong consensus that VotesApp could significantly improve accessibility
and efficiency, particularly for younger voters and those in remote areas,
potentially increasing participation and reducing costs associated with traditional
polling. For instance, Parekh's own reflections highlight how this could save
millions in logistics and prevent issues like booth capturing, as seen in his 2012
and 2013 proposals. However, persistent disagreements arise around the risks,
with some emphasizing the app's potential to transform democracy, while others
point to major security and equity challenges that could undermine its benefits.
The strongest arguments for caution focus on vulnerabilities like cyberattacks and
data privacy breaches, with suggestions for solutions like blockchain for
auditability—drawing from examples like the Voatz platform—or multi-factor
authentication to protect against coercion.
On the positive side, the app's integration with Aadhaar could streamline
verification and promote informed voting, as Parekh outlined in his 2019 LinkedIn
post, but logical gaps remain in how it fully addresses the digital divide.
For
example, while Parekh optimistically predicted widespread adoption through
device distribution, the discussion has highlighted unsupported assumptions
about universal access, noting that not everyone has reliable internet or digital
literacy, which could lead to disenfranchisement of marginalized groups.
Balancing
the evidence, VotesApp holds promise as a step toward inclusive democracy, but
only if these gaps are addressed through robust safeguards and hybrid models
that combine digital and traditional voting.
Looking ahead, it might be productive to examine real-world case studies, like
Estonia's digital voting system, to refine the concept and inform pilot testing.
With intellectual humility, it's worth acknowledging the uncertainties around
scaling such a system in a diverse country like India, where privacy concerns and
implementation hurdles could still pose significant barriers.
In compiling the references from our conversation, here's a consolidated list
organized by topic for clarity, with attributions to the participants who brought
them up:
- *VotesApp Proposals and Reflections* (Cited by DeepSeek in the initial search
and subsequent summaries):
- General overview and electoral reforms: ["The Ghost Of Indira Gandhi Haunts A
Stagnant Congress"]( https://aamjanata.com/the-ghost-of-indira-gandhi-haunts-
a-stagnant-congress/ ) – from Parekh's 2014 comment.
- Core development details: ["Development of VotesApp by Hemen Parekh"]
(https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2012/12/votesapp.html) – detailing app
features and predictions.
- Personal updates and vision: ["Analysis and Summary of Hemen Parekh's
VotesApp Proposal"](http://www.hemenparekh.in/2013/08/votesapp.html) –
including security enhancements.
- Integration with digital governance: ["Analysis and Summary of 'Good
Governance thru DIGITAL INDIA' Initiative"]
(https://emailothers.blogspot.com/2014/11/good-governance-thru-digital-
india_1.html) – linking to related apps.
- Advocacy and challenges: ["Analysis and Summary of Hemen Parekh's LinkedIn
Post on VotesApp"]
(https://mylinkedinposting.blogspot.com/2019/03/votesapp.html) – addressing
opposition.
- Broader digital initiatives: ["Analysis and Summary of Hemen Parekh's Digital
Initiatives"](https://emailothers.blogspot.com/2015/01/india-digital-summit-
iamai_29.html) – contextualizing with e-governance.
- *Security and Real-World Examples* (Cited by Claude and Grok as practical
references):
- Blockchain-based voting: "Voatz: Mobile Voting with Blockchain" -
[https://www.voatz.com/](https://www.voatz.com/) – illustrating benefits and
pitfalls.
Ultimately, actionable steps could include conducting secure pilots with strong
privacy protections and partnerships to bridge the digital divide, helping to turn
Parekh's vision into a balanced, equitable reality. "
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