We can say Promise Meets Peril in Digital Democracy Trial. Bihar is set to make history as the first Indian state to introduce mobile voting via the Android-only e-Voting SECBHR app for its June 28, 2025, municipal by-elections.
Aimed at enhancing democratic access for seniors, people with disabilities, the ill, pregnant women, and migrant workers, the initiative could involve 13,000 to 50,000 voters.
The app incorporates advanced features like face recognition, liveness detection, blockchain encryption, and a VVPAT-style audit trail. While these bolster security, serious concerns remain.
Cyberattacks, server breaches, and app tampering pose real risks. Voting from home introduces privacy concerns and the potential for coercion, while reliance on Android devices excludes non-users, exacerbating digital inequality.
Further, deepfake threats and photo spoofing could defeat facial recognition, and vote duplication through device reuse remains a vulnerability.
Without strong anti-tampering measures, transparency, and device-level safeguards, the system risks undermines the very trust it seeks to build.
To succeed, the initiative needs robust cybersecurity protocols, expanded device compatibility (including iOS), offline voting provisions, public education, and transparent auditing.
Bihar’s bold step into digital democracy shows promise, but its broader adoption hinges on solving these deep-rooted challenges.
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