1 live recording of poll proceedings & video-streaming in elections in tamil nadu [2009-10]...
TRANSCRIPT
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Live Recording of poll Live Recording of poll
proceedings & video-streamingproceedings & video-streaming
in Electionsin Elections in Tamil Nadu [2009-10]in Tamil Nadu [2009-10]
-Presentation on 12th May 2010
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Legal backing for coverage of poll proceedings
In 2005, ECI directed vide a lr. addressed to
CEO, Bihar, that in compliance with the
orders of the Supreme Court in CA No. 9228
of 2003 – (Janak Singh Vs. Das Rai and
Other) dt. Jan. 11, 2005, photography may be
carried inside polling stations to photograph
electors and cover poll proceedings without
compromising the secrecy of voting
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Authority for coverage of poll proceedings…
This was reiterated in the consolidated
instructions issued by ECI in letter of
17.01.2007 on the use of videography and
digital cameras during elections
The photograph of electors should be taken
immediately after an entry has been made in
the Register of Voters in Form 17 A
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A small beginning in Live Recording
During the Lok Sabha elections 2009 from
Tamil Nadu a start was made with Live-
Recording and Video streaming to the DEO’s
office being done in some polling stations in
Chennai, Madurai, Kanniyakumari and
Sivaganga districts
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DEO- Chennai Corporation Commissioner- monitoring Poll
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Upscaling of process in the bye-elections
Bye-Elections to 5 ACs (18th Aug. ’09) witnessed considerable upscaling of this process
Live recording done in all Polling Stations Laptops (with in-built web cam) diverted
temporarily from schools or PCs & Web Cameras were used
Computer teachers and students were drafted to serve as Operators
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Connectivity & Video-Streaming
BSNL, Chennai provided broadband
connectivity
Video-streaming to the CEO’s office
Server was possible wherever BSNL
connectivity was available
S/w provided free by an Agency
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More economical than videography
While the cost of conventional videography may range from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,500 per PS, the cost of live-recording works out to only Rs. 1,700 per PS incl. BSNL connectivity
• Laptops are mobilised from schools; Operators are College students or School teachers
• Cost of 2 web-cams Rs. 960; assuming each is used only 10 times ,
cost is taken as Rs. 960/10 or Rs. 100 roundly
• Broadband connectivity Rs. 700 per PS (wherever connectivity is feasible)
• Honorarium to Computer Operator Rs. 750 per PS; Officers of NIC/ ELCOT/ CMC who provide technical support Rs. 600
• Cost of CD Rs. 10 per PS
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Live-Recording & Video-Streaming…..
Subsequently, in the bye-elections to 2 ACs- Tiruchendur & Vandavasi and in the bye-election to Pennagaram AC (poll on 19th Dec. ’09 & 27th March 2010), live-recording was again done in all PSs
Video-streaming done first to CEO’s Server and from there to DEO’s office wherever BSNL connectivity was available- 100% in Tiruchendur AC & nearly 25% in Vandavasi AC; for Pennagaram AC, video-streaming was done for almost 100% PSs using WLL besides BSNL connectivity
For Pennagaram bye-election, a link was also provided to the Election Commission
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Hawthorn Effect
The fact that the Polling Officers, Booth
Agents and voters knew that they would be
observed live and that the proceedings were
being recorded made them behave properly-
‘Hawthorn effect’
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Recording in hard-disk
In as much as proceedings were recorded in
hard disk of laptops, it served as a deterrent
even if video-streaming was not possible
This was copied in a DVD and handed over to
the reception centre for viewing by the
Observer/ DEO/ RO (in case of any doubt/
complaint)
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Checking of image with PER
In the last 3 bye-elections, an innovative
feature was that [apart from live-recording of
the poll proceedings through a web-cam
positioned in each PS], another web cam was
put to focus on the elector and capture his
image for transmission to the CEO’s office
Server for comparison with the image in the
pre-loaded photo rolls database
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Checking of image with PER….
In the laptop dedicated for a PS, the photo
rolls database of the relevant Part relating to
that PS was loaded in the Laptop
This enabled the Operator and the Presiding
Officer also to view the photo of the elector
by entering the sl. no. of elector
[Web-cams were procured for all Polling Stations (at
2 per polling station) for the above purpose]
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Arrangements by DEOs
DEOs had to check on the availability and organize
(i) laptops
(ii) broadband connectivity [after discussion with
BSNL officers having jurisdiction] or WLL
(iii) Computer Sc. Teachers/ Operators/ Students with
IT/ Electronics Engg./ MCA or BCA background for
operating the computer on poll day
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Arrangements in CEO’s Control Room
In the CEO’s office Control Room, 1 Plasma
Screen per Constituency was hired for
viewing the live-recording and for checking
the image of the voter captured in the polling
station with the image in the photo rolls
placed by its side by a software devised for
the purpose
[It would be preferable to have a separate Plasma
Screen for each of the two processes]
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Arrangements in CEO’s Control Room… 40 MBPS (20MBPS/ AC) band-width line was leased
from BSNL for 1 week to provide the requisite
connectivity in CEO’s office
Four Servers were also hired for processing the live
feed of video and photos
Wherever any abnormality or unusual movement
was noticed, the Polling Station/ Zonal Officer was
contacted from the CEO’s Office using the
Communication Plan
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Thank You
Knowledge once gained casts a light beyond
its own immediate neighbours- John Tyndall