1 Live Recording of poll proceedings & video-streaming in Elections in Tamil Nadu [ ] -Presentation on 12 th May 2010

2 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 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

3 Authority for coverage of poll proceedings… This was reiterated in the consolidated instructions issued by ECI in letter of 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

4 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

5 DEO- Chennai Corporation Commissioner- monitoring Poll

6 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

7 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

8 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

9 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 & 27 th 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

10 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’

11 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)

12 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

13 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]

14 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

15 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]

16 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

17 Thank You Knowledge once gained casts a light beyond its own immediate neighbours- John Tyndall