With the 2025 Delhi Assembly election just hours away, people in the national capital are ready to perform their democratic duties on Wednesday (February 5).&nbsp;
As many as 1.56 crore people will be casting their votes at the 13,766 polling stations across the city.&nbsp;
It will be a race between three parties, including the &nbsp;Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-polls-whats-open-whats-closed-on-february-5-delhi-declares-public-holiday-for-assembly-polls-8690472" rel="dofollow">Delhi polls: What&rsquo;s open, what&rsquo;s closed on February 5 as national capital declares public holiday</a>
As we go back a little in history, AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal dominated the Delhi polls in the last two elections in 2015 and 2020. Before AAP came into power, Congress was in control of the city for 15 years.&nbsp;
Some might know, while others would like to learn about the whole voting process. To make it easier, here's a detailed process of how to vote for the Delhi Assembly election.&nbsp;
<h2>Step-by-step voting process&nbsp;</h2>
Voting, an essential democratic right, enables citizens to elect their representatives and influence the decision-making processes that affect their lives.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-assembly-election-case-filed-against-delhi-cm-atisi-after-aap-supporters-slapped-policeman-8688529" rel="dofollow">Delhi Assembly Election: Case filed against Delhi CM Atishi after AAP supporters slap policeman</a>
1. Register your name Ensure your name is listed on the electoral roll before you vote. All Indian citizens who are above 18 years of age as of January 1, can register as voters in their constituency.&nbsp;
A voter can complete the registration through the Election Commission of India's website.&nbsp;
2. Verify your name in voters' list&nbsp; Check if your name appears in the voters' list by visiting Electoral Search or using the Voter Helpline App available on Android and iOS.&nbsp;
3. Locate your polling station&nbsp; Use the Election Commission's tools to find the exact polling station assigned to you.&nbsp;
4. Bring your ID&nbsp; On the day of voting, carry your Voter ID (EPIC) or other required ID documents as prescribed by the Election Commission.&nbsp;
Valid IDs include:&nbsp;
Voter ID card&nbsp; Aadhar card Passport&nbsp; Driving license&nbsp; Ration card&nbsp; Bank passbook with a photograph&nbsp; PAN card&nbsp; Government service photo ID&nbsp;
Make sure that you carry your original and valid ID to avoid any issues during verification.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-election-campaign-ends-aap-bjp-congress-make-final-push-before-5-feb-vote-8687341" rel="dofollow">Delhi election campaign ends: AAP, BJP, Congress make final push before Feb 5 vote</a>
<h2>What happens in polling booth&nbsp;</h2>
1. Check-in and verification&nbsp; A polling official will verify your name in the electoral roll and will ask you to show your ID proof. Once the official confirms your identity, he will ink your right&nbsp;forefinger to prevent double voting.&nbsp;
2. Receiving voter's slip&nbsp; You will be given a voter's slip, which you need to sign in the register.&nbsp;
3. Voting&nbsp; Once you receive the voter's slip, you will proceed to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). In the booth, press the button next to the candidate's symbol of your choice. It will beep as a sign of confirmation of your vote, and a red light will glow near the candidate's name.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-assembly-polls-pm-modi-lashes-out-at-aap-for-prioritizing-its-image-over-youths-future-8686124" rel="dofollow">Delhi Assembly Polls: PM Modi lashes out at AAP for 'prioritising its image over youth's future'- WATCH</a>
4. VVPAT Check Once you've voted, the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will show the selected candidate's name, serial number, and symbol for seven seconds.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: Voting, an essential democratic right, enables citizens to elect their representatives and influence the decision-making processes that affect their lives. 

With the 2025 Delhi Assembly election just hours away, people in the national capital are ready to perform their democratic duties on Wednesday (February 5). As many as 1.56 crore people will be casting their votes at the 13,766 polling stations across the city. It will be a race between three parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress. Also read: Delhi polls: What’s open, what’s closed on February 5 as national capital declares public holiday As we go back a little in history, AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal dominated the Delhi polls in the last two elections in 2015 and 2020. Before AAP came into power, Congress was in control of the city for 15 years. Some might know, while others would like to learn about the whole voting process. To make it easier, here's a detailed process of how to vote for the Delhi Assembly election. Step-by-step voting process Voting, an essential democratic right, enables citizens to elect their representatives and influence the decision-making processes that affect their lives. Also read: Delhi Assembly Election: Case filed against Delhi CM Atishi after AAP supporters slap policeman 1. Register your name Ensure your name is listed on the electoral roll before you vote. All Indian citizens who are above 18 years of age as of January 1, can register as voters in their constituency. A voter can complete the registration through the Election Commission of India's website. 2. Verify your name in voters' list Check if your name appears in the voters' list by visiting Electoral Search or using the Voter Helpline App available on Android and iOS. 3. Locate your polling station Use the Election Commission's tools to find the exact polling station assigned to you. 4. Bring your ID On the day of voting, carry your Voter ID (EPIC) or other required ID documents as prescribed by the Election Commission. Valid IDs include: Voter ID card Aadhar card Passport Driving license Ration card Bank passbook with a photograph PAN card Government service photo ID Make sure that you carry your original and valid ID to avoid any issues during verification. Also read: Delhi election campaign ends: AAP, BJP, Congress make final push before Feb 5 vote What happens in polling booth 1. Check-in and verification A polling official will verify your name in the electoral roll and will ask you to show your ID proof. Once the official confirms your identity, he will ink your right forefinger to prevent double voting. 2. Receiving voter's slip You will be given a voter's slip, which you need to sign in the register. 3. Voting Once you receive the voter's slip, you will proceed to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). In the booth, press the button next to the candidate's symbol of your choice. It will beep as a sign of confirmation of your vote, and a red light will glow near the candidate's name. Also read: Delhi Assembly Polls: PM Modi lashes out at AAP for 'prioritising its image over youth's future'- WATCH 4. VVPAT Check Once you've voted, the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will show the selected candidate's name, serial number, and symbol for seven seconds. (With inputs from agencies)

How to vote in Delhi Assembly election? A step-by-step guide for voters

A day before the Lok Sabha elections 2024 results are set to be announced, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar hailed the unsung heroes who played a quintessential role in the elections and spoke about how India created a world record of 642 million voters taking part in the world's biggest exercise.

"We have created a world record of 642 million voters. This is 1.5 times voters of all G7 countries and 2.5 times voters of 27 countries in the EU," said CEC Kumar. "Voters scripted history in 2024. Over 31 crore women cast their vote. Over 64 crore votes have been cast in these elections," he added.

The Election Commission of India gave a standing ovation to all the voters who participated in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

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The commissioner, speaking about how the elections were made successful, said 1.5 crore polling and security personnel were deployed, 68,763 monitoring teams worked, 135 special trains were run, 1692 air sorties flew and four&nbsp;lakh vehicles were used in the process.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-takes-pledge-hours-before-election-results-charts-way-for-viksit-bharat-by-2047-728179">PM Modi hails India's progress in spiritual letter following 45-hour meditation in Kanniyakumari</a>

"Over 68,000 monitoring teams, 1.5 crore polling and security personnel were involved in the world's largest electoral exercise," said CEC Rajiv Kumar.

"Nearly four lakh vehicles, 135 special trains and 1,692 air sorties were used in conducting 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added.&nbsp;

He added that home voting was conducted for voters above 85 years of age. "We had kept a strict vigil that no words on women's dignity should be uttered by any political person," the CEC said.

Responding to social media memes in which election commissioners were called 'Laapata Gentlemen', CEC Rajiv Kumar said, "We were always here, never went missing."&nbsp;

<h2>J&amp;K recorded highest voter turnout in last four decades: CEC&nbsp;</h2>

The CEC further said that the voter turnout recorded in Jammu &amp; Kashmir was highest in the last four decades.

"Due to the meticulous work of the election personnel we ensured fewer repolls - we saw 39 repolls in Lok Sabha polls 2024 as opposed to 540 in 2019 and 25 out of 39 repolls were in two&nbsp;states only," the CEC stated.

Watch:&nbsp;India general elections 2024: Political leaders vent eloquent ahead of counting of votes

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-general-elections-2024-political-leaders-vent-eloquent-ahead-of-counting-of-votes-728171/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He further spoke about identification, confrontation, and tackling of the 4Ms - Muscle, Money, Misinformation and MCC Violations.

"This is one of the General Elections where we have not seen violence. This required two years of preparation," said CEC Rajiv Kumar.

He further spoke about how AI-generated synthetic content and deepfakes were not found and added that the voter has emerged as the real winner.

"Election Commission made a record seizure record of almost Rs 10,000 crores during this election. This is nearly 3 times the value seized in 2019...Local teams were empowered to do their work," said CEC Rajiv Kumar.

(With inputs from agencies)

A day before the Lok Sabha elections 2024 results are set to be announced, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar hailed the unsung heroes who played a quintessential role in the elections and spoke about how India created a world record of 642 million voters taking part in the world's biggest exercise.

A day before the Lok Sabha elections 2024 results are set to be announced, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar hailed the unsung heroes who played a quintessential role in the elections and spoke about how India created a world record of 642 million voters taking part in the world's biggest exercise. "We have created a world record of 642 million voters. This is 1.5 times voters of all G7 countries and 2.5 times voters of 27 countries in the EU," said CEC Kumar. "Voters scripted history in 2024. Over 31 crore women cast their vote. Over 64 crore votes have been cast in these elections," he added. The Election Commission of India gave a standing ovation to all the voters who participated in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. #WATCH | Delhi | Election Commission of India gives a standing ovation to all voters who took part in Lok Sabha elections 2024 pic.twitter.com/iwIfNd58LV — ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2024 × The commissioner, speaking about how the elections were made successful, said 1.5 crore polling and security personnel were deployed, 68,763 monitoring teams worked, 135 special trains were run, 1692 air sorties flew and four lakh vehicles were used in the process. Also Read: PM Modi hails India's progress in spiritual letter following 45-hour meditation in Kanniyakumari "Over 68,000 monitoring teams, 1.5 crore polling and security personnel were involved in the world's largest electoral exercise," said CEC Rajiv Kumar. "Nearly four lakh vehicles, 135 special trains and 1,692 air sorties were used in conducting 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added. He added that home voting was conducted for voters above 85 years of age. "We had kept a strict vigil that no words on women's dignity should be uttered by any political person," the CEC said. Responding to social media memes in which election commissioners were called 'Laapata Gentlemen', CEC Rajiv Kumar said, "We were always here, never went missing." J&K recorded highest voter turnout in last four decades: CEC The CEC further said that the voter turnout recorded in Jammu & Kashmir was highest in the last four decades. "Due to the meticulous work of the election personnel we ensured fewer repolls - we saw 39 repolls in Lok Sabha polls 2024 as opposed to 540 in 2019 and 25 out of 39 repolls were in two states only," the CEC stated. Watch: India general elections 2024: Political leaders vent eloquent ahead of counting of votes He further spoke about identification, confrontation, and tackling of the 4Ms - Muscle, Money, Misinformation and MCC Violations. "This is one of the General Elections where we have not seen violence. This required two years of preparation," said CEC Rajiv Kumar. He further spoke about how AI-generated synthetic content and deepfakes were not found and added that the voter has emerged as the real winner. "Election Commission made a record seizure record of almost Rs 10,000 crores during this election. This is nearly 3 times the value seized in 2019...Local teams were empowered to do their work," said CEC Rajiv Kumar. (With inputs from agencies)

Record 642mn voters participated in Indian general elections; Election Commission hails unsung heroes

As the 2024 Lok Sabha election&nbsp;approaches, the Election Commission of India has encouraged Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to exercise their voting rights. The election is&nbsp;scheduled to commence on&nbsp;April 19&nbsp;and will be held in&nbsp;seven phases over 44 days.

How to Fill the Form 6A?

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-india-successfully-flight-tests-indigenous-technology-cruise-missile-712647">WATCH: India successfully flight-tests Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile</a>

<ol>
	<li>Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are required to complete Form 6A online via the Voters' Service Portal by navigating to the "Forms" section. Within this section, locate the option titled "New registration for overseas (NRI) electors," accompanied by the instruction: "Complete Form 6A if you are an Indian citizen and have not acquired citizenship of any other country."</li>
	<li>To initiate the form submission, individuals should select the "Fill Form 6A" option located on the left-hand side. Moreover, they are required to upload necessary documents, such as self-attested photocopies of their passports, Indian addresses and a valid visa endorsement. Additionally, NRIs need to include a recent passport-size&nbsp;colour photograph along with Form 6A.</li>
	<li>After completion, booth-level officials will visit citizens' addresses as per their passports for verification. Voters can fill out and submit Form 8 to correct the electoral roll if necessary. NRIs can cast their vote at the polling location upon presenting their original passport.</li>
	<li>The ERO will communicate its decision via post to your address and SMS to the provided phone number in Form 6A, regardless of verification status. NRIs won't receive an EPIC and must vote in person at the designated polling station with their original passport.</li>
</ol>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-cabinet-minister-atishi-accuses-bjp-of-plotting-to-kill-kejriwal-712651">Delhi cabinet minister Atishi accuses BJP of plotting to kill Kejriwal</a>

As the 2024 Lok Sabha election approaches, the Election Commission of India has encouraged Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to exercise their voting rights. The election is scheduled to commence on April 19 and will be held in seven phases over 44 days.

As the 2024 Lok Sabha election approaches, the Election Commission of India has encouraged Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to exercise their voting rights. The election is scheduled to commence on April 19 and will be held in seven phases over 44 days. How to Fill the Form 6A? Also read | WATCH: India successfully flight-tests Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are required to complete Form 6A online via the Voters' Service Portal by navigating to the "Forms" section. Within this section, locate the option titled "New registration for overseas (NRI) electors," accompanied by the instruction: "Complete Form 6A if you are an Indian citizen and have not acquired citizenship of any other country." To initiate the form submission, individuals should select the "Fill Form 6A" option located on the left-hand side. Moreover, they are required to upload necessary documents, such as self-attested photocopies of their passports, Indian addresses and a valid visa endorsement. Additionally, NRIs need to include a recent passport-size colour photograph along with Form 6A. After completion, booth-level officials will visit citizens' addresses as per their passports for verification. Voters can fill out and submit Form 8 to correct the electoral roll if necessary. NRIs can cast their vote at the polling location upon presenting their original passport. The ERO will communicate its decision via post to your address and SMS to the provided phone number in Form 6A, regardless of verification status. NRIs won't receive an EPIC and must vote in person at the designated polling station with their original passport. Also read | Delhi cabinet minister Atishi accuses BJP of plotting to kill Kejriwal

How can NRIs cast vote in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections? All you need to know

India on Friday (Mar 15) said that the phobia against any faith or religion is not restricted to the Abrahamic religions as the nation abstained from voting on a draft resolution aimed at adopting 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' in the UN General Assembly.&nbsp;

Pakistan had introduced the resolution in the UN General Assembly and it was co-sponsored by China.

The statement was made by India's permanent representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj while explaining the position of New Delhi during the voting on the resolution.&nbsp;

Speaking at the the UN General Assembly's 61st plenary session, Kamboj said that the modern world has been witnessing unequal developments and escalation in geopolitical tension which have given rise to "intolerance, discrimination and violence" on the basis of people's belief or religion.

"India as a proud champion of pluralism firmly upholds the principle of equal protection and promotion of all religions &amp; all faiths. Our rich history as a pluralistic and democratic nation in embracing diverse religions has long served a refuge for those persecuted for their faith...This principle isn't merely a facet of our culture, it is enshrined within the Constitution of India," said Ruchira Kamboj, while speaking at the UN.

&nbsp;

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PR delivers the explanation of India's position during the adoption of the resolution on 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' at the United Nations General Assembly today. <a href="https://t.co/AheU8UvpYM">pic.twitter.com/AheU8UvpYM</a>
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The ambassador said that the growing violence, discrimination and intolerance against followers of different religions has, hence, been an issue of concern in the present day.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-abandoned-use-of-nuclear-weapon-in-ukraine-after-intervention-from-india-china-report-698455">India's intervention made Putin abandon use of nuclear weapon in Ukraine: Report</a>

"We condemn all acts motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia or Islamophobia," said Kamboj.

"Clear evidence shows over decades that followers of non-Abrahamic religion have also been affected by religio phobia. This has led to emergence of contemporary forms of religious phobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh elements. These contemporary forms of religion phobia are evident in the increasing attacks on religious places such as Gurudwaras, monasteries and temples as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries," said India's Permanent Representative to the UN.

<h2>India against all forms of religiophobia: Kamboj</h2>

In support of her statement, Kamboj spoke about the reports of attacks on Sikh pilgrims, destruction of gurdwaras and damage to deities at temples which have been emerging lately.

"The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of gurdwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in gurdwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions," the ambassador said.

"It is crucial to recognise that Hinduism...Buddhism... and Sikhism...are all subject to religiophobia. It is time to acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia rather than just single out one... While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, we must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality," she added.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Ireland's Trade Minister Simon Coveney hopeful on India- EU FTA; Lauds India's payments system

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/irelands-trade-minister-simon-coveney-hopeful-on-india-eu-fta-lauds-indias-payments-system-700664/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Kamboj emphasised that India is against all kinds of religiophobia - antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia - adding that "we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments."

However, the resolution was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly on March 15 and the day was proclaimed as the International Day to combat Islamophobia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

India on Friday (Mar 15) said that the phobia against any faith or religion is not restricted to the Abrahamic religions as the nation abstained from voting on a draft resolution aimed at adopting 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' in the UN General Assembly.

India on Friday (Mar 15) said that the phobia against any faith or religion is not restricted to the Abrahamic religions as the nation abstained from voting on a draft resolution aimed at adopting 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' in the UN General Assembly. Pakistan had introduced the resolution in the UN General Assembly and it was co-sponsored by China. The statement was made by India's permanent representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj while explaining the position of New Delhi during the voting on the resolution. Speaking at the the UN General Assembly's 61st plenary session, Kamboj said that the modern world has been witnessing unequal developments and escalation in geopolitical tension which have given rise to "intolerance, discrimination and violence" on the basis of people's belief or religion. "India as a proud champion of pluralism firmly upholds the principle of equal protection and promotion of all religions & all faiths. Our rich history as a pluralistic and democratic nation in embracing diverse religions has long served a refuge for those persecuted for their faith...This principle isn't merely a facet of our culture, it is enshrined within the Constitution of India," said Ruchira Kamboj, while speaking at the UN. #IndiaAtUN PR delivers the explanation of India's position during the adoption of the resolution on 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' at the United Nations General Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/AheU8UvpYM — India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) March 15, 2024 × The ambassador said that the growing violence, discrimination and intolerance against followers of different religions has, hence, been an issue of concern in the present day. Also Read: India's intervention made Putin abandon use of nuclear weapon in Ukraine: Report "We condemn all acts motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia or Islamophobia," said Kamboj. "Clear evidence shows over decades that followers of non-Abrahamic religion have also been affected by religio phobia. This has led to emergence of contemporary forms of religious phobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh elements. These contemporary forms of religion phobia are evident in the increasing attacks on religious places such as Gurudwaras, monasteries and temples as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries," said India's Permanent Representative to the UN. India against all forms of religiophobia: Kamboj In support of her statement, Kamboj spoke about the reports of attacks on Sikh pilgrims, destruction of gurdwaras and damage to deities at temples which have been emerging lately. "The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of gurdwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in gurdwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions," the ambassador said. "It is crucial to recognise that Hinduism...Buddhism... and Sikhism...are all subject to religiophobia. It is time to acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia rather than just single out one... While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, we must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality," she added. Watch: Ireland's Trade Minister Simon Coveney hopeful on India- EU FTA; Lauds India's payments system Kamboj emphasised that India is against all kinds of religiophobia - antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia - adding that "we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments." However, the resolution was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly on March 15 and the day was proclaimed as the International Day to combat Islamophobia. (With inputs from agencies)

India abstains from voting on Islamophobia in UNGA, claims ‘others also affected by religiophobia’

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, reported state news agency TASS, on Sunday (Feb 25) citing a Moscow-appointed local election official. Meanwhile, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations said that they will “never recognise” the elections held in the occupied Ukrainian regions.&nbsp;

<h2>Russian presidential election early voting</h2>

Early voting for the Russian presidential election kicked off in the Russian-occupied region of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, said Galina Katyushchenko, chairperson of the regional election commission, according to TASS.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: EU President says, 'More than ever, we stand firmly by Ukraine'

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The district election commission members will reportedly go door-to-door in the settlements which are adjacent to the frontline amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with ballot papers and boxes and the residents of these areas and Russian soldiers, will be the first ones to vote.&nbsp;

“People who live close to the line of engagement and service members will be the first to vote,” Katyushchenko told reporters, as quoted by TASS.&nbsp;

The voters will be asked to present their Russian or Ukrainian passports in order to cast the ballots, according to the commission in the Russian-occupied region. The polling stations in Zaporizhzhia will open on March 17, reported TASS.

Zaporizhzhia is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed in 2022 but only controls parts of them. In September, Russian authorities held elections in the annexed regions for Russian-installed officials which was denounced by the West and Ukraine as a sham.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-23-year-old-indian-killed-in-drone-strike-was-employed-by-russia-693753">Russia-Ukraine war: 23-year-old Indian killed in drone strike, was employed by Russia</a>

The election will see Russian President Vladimir Putin running virtually unopposed for his fifth term which will keep him in power until 2030.&nbsp;

Last week, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the ruling by electoral authorities barring anti-war candidate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-blocks-anti-putin-campaigner-nadezhdin-from-election-688290">Boris Nadezhdin</a> from contesting in next month’s election.&nbsp;

<h2>G7 leaders won’t recognise elections</h2>

On Saturday (Feb 24) marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leaders from G7 nations released a statement saying that they will not recognise the elections held in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-50-of-western-arms-deliveries-dont-arrive-on-time-says-kyiv-693727">Ukraine war: 50% of Western arms deliveries don’t arrive on time, says Kyiv</a>

The leaders of the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union – called on Russia to “immediately cease its war of aggression and completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.”&nbsp;

It added, “We will never recognise so-called ‘elections’, past and future, held by Russia in the territories of Ukraine, nor their results.”&nbsp;

The G7 leaders called Russia’s intention to hold votes in occupied Ukrainian territories in the upcoming presidential election, an “outrageous violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, reported state news agency TASS, on Sunday (Feb 25) citing a Moscow-appointed local election official.

Early voting in Russia’s presidential election began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, reported state news agency TASS, on Sunday (Feb 25) citing a Moscow-appointed local election official. Meanwhile, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations said that they will “never recognise” the elections held in the occupied Ukrainian regions. Russian presidential election early voting Early voting for the Russian presidential election kicked off in the Russian-occupied region of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, said Galina Katyushchenko, chairperson of the regional election commission, according to TASS. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war: EU President says, 'More than ever, we stand firmly by Ukraine' The district election commission members will reportedly go door-to-door in the settlements which are adjacent to the frontline amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with ballot papers and boxes and the residents of these areas and Russian soldiers, will be the first ones to vote. “People who live close to the line of engagement and service members will be the first to vote,” Katyushchenko told reporters, as quoted by TASS. The voters will be asked to present their Russian or Ukrainian passports in order to cast the ballots, according to the commission in the Russian-occupied region. The polling stations in Zaporizhzhia will open on March 17, reported TASS. Zaporizhzhia is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed in 2022 but only controls parts of them. In September, Russian authorities held elections in the annexed regions for Russian-installed officials which was denounced by the West and Ukraine as a sham. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine war: 23-year-old Indian killed in drone strike, was employed by Russia The election will see Russian President Vladimir Putin running virtually unopposed for his fifth term which will keep him in power until 2030. Last week, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the ruling by electoral authorities barring anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin from contesting in next month’s election. G7 leaders won’t recognise elections On Saturday (Feb 24) marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leaders from G7 nations released a statement saying that they will not recognise the elections held in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. Also Read | Ukraine war: 50% of Western arms deliveries don’t arrive on time, says Kyiv The leaders of the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union – called on Russia to “immediately cease its war of aggression and completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.” It added, “We will never recognise so-called ‘elections’, past and future, held by Russia in the territories of Ukraine, nor their results.” The G7 leaders called Russia’s intention to hold votes in occupied Ukrainian territories in the upcoming presidential election, an “outrageous violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian presidential election: Early voting begins in occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia

The data of millions of British voters was accessible to hackers behina a cyber-attack by “hostile actors” which came to light last year, the United Kingdom Electoral Commission admitted on Tuesday (August 8). According to the independent body, the hackers were able to access internal emails of the commission and copies of voter data in a complex cyber attack.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know about the hack?</h2>

The cyber attack, as per the electoral commission, took place in August 2021 but it was not until October 2022 that it was identified. “We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed,” said the Electoral Commission Chief Executive Shaun McNally, in a statement.

The watchdog has also apologised for the security breach and said that the incident was reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), as well as the National Crime Agency, back in October.&nbsp;

Speaking about why the public was not informed about the hack, the watchdog chief said that it needed to “remove the actors and their access to our system, assess the extent of the incident, liaise with the National Cyber Security Centre and ICO, and put additional security measures in place before we could make the incident public”. 
 
The attack also involved “a sophisticated infiltration method,” which was why it took so long to detect, said the electoral commission chief.&nbsp;

<h2>Data accessed by hackers</h2>

The commission said that they were not able to “conclusively” know what information had been accessed but since the election process is largely paper-based it would be very hard for hackers to affect the outcome of a vote.&nbsp;

“The UK’s democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting. This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process,” said McNally.&nbsp;

However, the attackers were able to access reference copies of the electoral registers which include the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of those registered as overseas voters. The commission’s email system was also accessible to the hackers. 
&nbsp;

<h2>Electoral security concerns</h2>

The incident also comes as electoral security has emerged as a key issue in many countries since United States officials found alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election to favour Donald Trump’s White House bid.&nbsp;

In 2020, a British parliamentary committee also found that Russia allegedly interfered in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and the Brexit vote.

“The successful attack on the Electoral Commission highlights that organisations involved in elections remain a target, and need to remain vigilant to the risks to processes around our elections,” said McNally.&nbsp;

He added, “We regret that sufficient protections were not in place to prevent this cyber-attack. Since identifying it, we have taken significant steps with the support of specialists to improve the security, resilience and reliability of our IT systems.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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The data of millions of British voters was accessible to hackers behina a cyber-attack by “hostile actors” which came to light last year, the United Kingdom Electoral Commission admitted on Tuesday (August 8).

The data of millions of British voters was accessible to hackers behina a cyber-attack by “hostile actors” which came to light last year, the United Kingdom Electoral Commission admitted on Tuesday (August 8). According to the independent body, the hackers were able to access internal emails of the commission and copies of voter data in a complex cyber attack. What do we know about the hack? The cyber attack, as per the electoral commission, took place in August 2021 but it was not until October 2022 that it was identified. “We know which systems were accessible to the hostile actors, but are not able to know conclusively what files may or may not have been accessed,” said the Electoral Commission Chief Executive Shaun McNally, in a statement. The watchdog has also apologised for the security breach and said that the incident was reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), as well as the National Crime Agency, back in October. Speaking about why the public was not informed about the hack, the watchdog chief said that it needed to “remove the actors and their access to our system, assess the extent of the incident, liaise with the National Cyber Security Centre and ICO, and put additional security measures in place before we could make the incident public”. The attack also involved “a sophisticated infiltration method,” which was why it took so long to detect, said the electoral commission chief. Data accessed by hackers The commission said that they were not able to “conclusively” know what information had been accessed but since the election process is largely paper-based it would be very hard for hackers to affect the outcome of a vote. “The UK’s democratic process is significantly dispersed and key aspects of it remain based on paper documentation and counting. This means it would be very hard to use a cyber-attack to influence the process,” said McNally. However, the attackers were able to access reference copies of the electoral registers which include the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of those registered as overseas voters. The commission’s email system was also accessible to the hackers. Electoral security concerns The incident also comes as electoral security has emerged as a key issue in many countries since United States officials found alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election to favour Donald Trump’s White House bid. In 2020, a British parliamentary committee also found that Russia allegedly interfered in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and the Brexit vote. “The successful attack on the Electoral Commission highlights that organisations involved in elections remain a target, and need to remain vigilant to the risks to processes around our elections,” said McNally. He added, “We regret that sufficient protections were not in place to prevent this cyber-attack. Since identifying it, we have taken significant steps with the support of specialists to improve the security, resilience and reliability of our IT systems.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK Electoral Commission hacked, millions of British voters’ data accessible to ‘hostile actors’

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The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">elections</a> for the post of the President of the United States are due in a few weeks, and the voting has already started in some states.

In the US, the Presidential elections take place every four years and the congressional elections are held every two years.

While the process of nominee selection for one of the most important positions of this world is quite similar to the rest of the developing and developed countries, what is different than the rest is the US’ voting process.

The electoral process involves the selection of candidates, registration of voters and casting the vote.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-how-are-votes-counted-in-the-presidential-election-335422">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election?</a>

Unlike other countries, some states in the US have the power to establish their own rules for voting. However, the reason the majority of the states follow the same rules is due to the various restrictions imposed by the federal agencies.

American voters, earlier, were supposed to be of the age of 21 and older. However, later the 26th Amendment to the Constitution changed the legal voting age to 18, and now therefore everyone who is 18-years-old and older is considered to be an adult and eligible to vote. Another very important condition for being an eligible voter is that the person should be a registered US citizen. Anybody who does not hold the US passport and is not a legally registered citizen is not allowed to cast vote, including any other visa holders such as study and work visa.

After being eligible to vote, a citizen has to register with the required authorities. In some states, people have to register through the mail — usually on forms available from the local registrar of voters — and in others, they can go meet the locally appointed officers to finish the process.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-republicans-clash-with-california-officials-over-ballot-boxes-335425">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: Republicans clash with California officials over ballot boxes</a>

The registration rules, too, vary from state to state, some allowing citizens to register till a week before the election, while others closing it a few weeks ago.

Every state has different dates for voting, which is very different from the majority of the countries. All states, cities, counties, districts are divided into something labelled as ‘voting districts’, which are basically local precinct where people can go and cast their votes.

On the decided date(s) of the voting, the registered people can go and cast their vote either at the voting booths or drop their mail-in votes at the fixed drop-in points or mail it at the provided address.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-indian-americans-overwhelmingly-support-joe-biden-new-poll-shows-335285">Also read|&nbsp;US election 2020: Indian-Americans overwhelmingly support Joe Biden, new poll shows</a>

When all states close voting, the counting of the votes begins, which includes the poll and the mail-in votes. The counting of the votes does not take a very long time. However, that was when majority of the voters were casting votes at the nearest voting booth. This year, however, due to the pandemic, a major increase is being anticipated in the mail-in votes, which can also down the vote-counting process, further leading to a delay in the announcement and swearing-in ceremony.&nbsp;

A delay in the result announcement is something that even the current US President Donald Trump — who is rerunning for the post — has also warned the authorities again. Trump has claimed that the United States Postal Service is not capable of conducting operations on such a high level. However, he has often faced harsh criticism and wrath from his opponents and voters for the lack of trust he has shown in the USPS — often considered to be a pride of the US.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-this-will-end-badly-for-us-elections-result-331339">Experts, and Trump, also believe that the increase in mail-in voting can also increase the manipulation of the voters and their casted votes.</a>

The elections, this year, are scheduled for November 03 and will see the US President Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate and the former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> fight for the White House.&nbsp;

This year, on December 14, the members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots for president. As per the system, the winner of the each state’s popular vote will earn that state’s electoral votes, which are apportioned by population. The candidate who receives a majority of either 583 (or 270) will inch closer to the finish line.&nbsp;

Then on January 06, 2021, the Congress will meet past noon in Washington to count the electoral votes and declare a winner who will be sworn in for the position along with his running mate at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20.

The elections for the post of the President of the United States are due in a few weeks, and the voting has already started in some states. In the US, the Presidential elections take place every four years and the congressional elections are held every two years.

The elections for the post of the President of the United States are due in a few weeks, and the voting has already started in some states. In the US, the Presidential elections take place every four years and the congressional elections are held every two years. While the process of nominee selection for one of the most important positions of this world is quite similar to the rest of the developing and developed countries, what is different than the rest is the US’ voting process. The electoral process involves the selection of candidates, registration of voters and casting the vote. Also read| US election 2020: How are votes counted in the presidential election? Unlike other countries, some states in the US have the power to establish their own rules for voting. However, the reason the majority of the states follow the same rules is due to the various restrictions imposed by the federal agencies. American voters, earlier, were supposed to be of the age of 21 and older. However, later the 26th Amendment to the Constitution changed the legal voting age to 18, and now therefore everyone who is 18-years-old and older is considered to be an adult and eligible to vote. Another very important condition for being an eligible voter is that the person should be a registered US citizen. Anybody who does not hold the US passport and is not a legally registered citizen is not allowed to cast vote, including any other visa holders such as study and work visa. After being eligible to vote, a citizen has to register with the required authorities. In some states, people have to register through the mail — usually on forms available from the local registrar of voters — and in others, they can go meet the locally appointed officers to finish the process. Also read| US election 2020: Republicans clash with California officials over ballot boxes The registration rules, too, vary from state to state, some allowing citizens to register till a week before the election, while others closing it a few weeks ago. Every state has different dates for voting, which is very different from the majority of the countries. All states, cities, counties, districts are divided into something labelled as ‘voting districts’, which are basically local precinct where people can go and cast their votes. On the decided date(s) of the voting, the registered people can go and cast their vote either at the voting booths or drop their mail-in votes at the fixed drop-in points or mail it at the provided address. Also read| US election 2020: Indian-Americans overwhelmingly support Joe Biden, new poll shows When all states close voting, the counting of the votes begins, which includes the poll and the mail-in votes. The counting of the votes does not take a very long time. However, that was when majority of the voters were casting votes at the nearest voting booth. This year, however, due to the pandemic, a major increase is being anticipated in the mail-in votes, which can also down the vote-counting process, further leading to a delay in the announcement and swearing-in ceremony. A delay in the result announcement is something that even the current US President Donald Trump — who is rerunning for the post — has also warned the authorities again. Trump has claimed that the United States Postal Service is not capable of conducting operations on such a high level. However, he has often faced harsh criticism and wrath from his opponents and voters for the lack of trust he has shown in the USPS — often considered to be a pride of the US. Experts, and Trump, also believe that the increase in mail-in voting can also increase the manipulation of the voters and their casted votes. The elections, this year, are scheduled for November 03 and will see the US President Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate and the former Vice President Joe Biden fight for the White House. This year, on December 14, the members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots for president. As per the system, the winner of the each state’s popular vote will earn that state’s electoral votes, which are apportioned by population. The candidate who receives a majority of either 583 (or 270) will inch closer to the finish line. Then on January 06, 2021, the Congress will meet past noon in Washington to count the electoral votes and declare a winner who will be sworn in for the position along with his running mate at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20.

US election 2020: How the States vote for the Presidential elections

Delhi election: CM Kejriwal, President Kovind and others cast votes

India can consider making voting compulsory like in Australia to encourage rich and middle class to cast their ballots, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Wednesday.

Kant's statement comes against the backdrop of low voting turnout witnessed in several urban areas of India in ongoing general elections. In Mumbai, less than 52 per cent voting was witnessed in the Lok Sabha polls held on April 29.

"Australia too is in the midst of its federal elections. Voting is compulsory and those who do not vote are fined USD 20.

"In case of non-payment, you can be taken to court and liable to be jailed. Seeing the apathy of rich and middle-class voters in urban cities of India this is worth a try," he said in a tweet.

The issue of compulsory voting has cropped up several times within and outside Parliament.

In February last year, while responding to a private member's bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on compulsory voting, then Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had said though he appreciated the intention of the members, it would not be possible for the government to introduce compulsory voting and penalise those who failed to exercise their franchise.&nbsp;

India can consider making voting compulsory like in Australia to encourage rich and middle class to cast their ballots, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Wednesday.

India can consider making voting compulsory like in Australia to encourage rich and middle class to cast their ballots, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Wednesday. Kant's statement comes against the backdrop of low voting turnout witnessed in several urban areas of India in ongoing general elections. In Mumbai, less than 52 per cent voting was witnessed in the Lok Sabha polls held on April 29. "Australia too is in the midst of its federal elections. Voting is compulsory and those who do not vote are fined USD 20. "In case of non-payment, you can be taken to court and liable to be jailed. Seeing the apathy of rich and middle-class voters in urban cities of India this is worth a try," he said in a tweet. The issue of compulsory voting has cropped up several times within and outside Parliament. In February last year, while responding to a private member's bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on compulsory voting, then Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had said though he appreciated the intention of the members, it would not be possible for the government to introduce compulsory voting and penalise those who failed to exercise their franchise.

Compulsory voting worth a try in India, says NITI CEO

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