AN ELECTRONIC voting system has opened ahead of the March state election.
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The iVote system allows disabled and remote people to vote using the internet or telephone.
The voting platform applies to electors who are blind, vision impaired, have a disability, have literacy needs, live more than 20km from a polling place or who are outside NSW on election day.
"People have the right to a secret ballot," Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry said.
"The iVote system allows a range of people to vote unassisted.
"The availability of internet voting will also greatly benefit the thousands of electors who are interstate of overseas on election day."
The system was introduced into the NSW state general election in March 2011 and has since been used for subsequent state by-elections.
Under current legislation, the iVote system cannot be made available in local government elections.
But an independent researcher conducting his PhD, Phillip Zada, is calling for mobile voting to be rolled out as an additional option to everyone across the country.
He maintains mobile e-voting promises greater efficiency, convenience and flexibility to the voting process, given 43 million ballot papers are printed and 100,000 pencils used on average in an election.
Mr Zada, who stressed online polling - similar to iVote - would not replace the booth, but complement it.
"Australia pioneered and introduced the currently used secret ballot system in 1855, so why are we so behind in keeping up with the rest of the world?" he said.
Registrations for iVote close at 1pm on Saturday, March 28.
Once registered, electors can vote using the system from 8am Monday, March 16 to 6pm election day, Saturday, March 28.
iVote eligibility fast facts
13,000 NSW electors are blind
54,000 NSW electors have low vision
330,000 NSW electors have other disabilities
30,000 electors live in remote or rural areas