MaSSSoftech

To give a chance to the voters to have a closer watch on the election scene, the state Government launched a new service by integrating the election database with the recently started SMS-gateway service.

Voters can access information about their names on the voter list and their polling booth by sending their voter ID card number to 56300 from their mobile phones, using the SMS service. “In reply, they will be sent the desired information about name and number of the constituency, the polling station number, voter serial number and the polling station address,” said Principal Secretary, Information Technology, B K Aggarwal.

The codes to access the information will also be launched shortly so that voters of Rohru and Jawali constituencies can use the service. The SMS service will be put to test for the first time during the Rohru and Jawali byelections to be held on November 7.
The new service will also enable the public to get instant information updates on their mobiles through SMS about voter turnout at booth level on the polling day, the male-female voter ratio and overall voting percentage.

He said a format for giving more information such as hourly polling percentage on the voting day was also being worked out. “We have the infrastructure ready. It depends on the election observers and other officials that at what frequency they want to release this information. The information will be updated in the state election department’s database on the website so that the voters can access it through SMS any time,” said Aggarwal.
“BSNL users will be charged Rs 2 per message and others at the rate of Rs 3. The service provider will charge the Government for the replies sent,” said Aggarwal.

He said the service will also have utility during the counting of votes, where voters could get round-wise updates.