Electronic voting machines to be introduced in 5 years

A man uses his thumb to operate a voting machine during its launching ceremony in Islamabad. PHOTO: ONLINE

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to introduce an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) system in phases to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

ECP officials say the decision was taken after receiving a positive response from political parties and civil society organisations on the proposed plan.

“The complete usage of EVM in the election process in Pakistan will take approximately five years to be implemented,” Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan said on Tuesday at a press briefing in Islamabad.

Khan said that for the 175,000 polling booths currently required for general elections in Pakistan, the EVMs would cost between Rs1 billion and Rs1.5 billion depending on the type of machine and technology being used.

He said the system will be implemented in phases – it will first be introduced as a pilot project and then gradually expanded.

The ECP had invited representatives of major political parties and NGOs to a two-day demonstration on the working of the EVMs.

The demonstrations were given by three international companies: Smartmatic (the Philippines), Dominion Voting (Canada) and Indra Company (Spain).

The ECP claims that major political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, and some civil society organisations working on ensuring transparency in the electoral process, has approved the system.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) really appreciates the ECP initiative for introducing EVMs and the party will also extend all possible support that could help to bring transparency, fairness and impartiality in the elections,” ECP quoted PPPP’s General Secretary, Raja Pervez Ashraf as saying.

However, analysts maintain that in a country with a low literacy rate like Pakistan the introduction of EVMs may create problems for the average voter. They also believe that the cost of the project may make it difficult to implement given the poor economic situation of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, June  30^th, 2010.