
KARACHI:
Biometrics is a remarkable technology widely employed across various sectors, including government organisations, schools, telecom companies, banks and the armed forces. The application of biometric verification extends to wireless devices, while camera image verification is specifically utilised for confirming employee attendance in government organisations.
All Pakistanis are required to undergo biometric verification, using their fingerprints, when obtaining a mobile SIM, opening a bank account or applying for passports. So, the question arises: why aren’t all Pakistanis undergoing biometric verification for voting during the General Elections? A biometric verification mechanism must be implemented for voting. In this process, voters would utilise their National Identity Card (NIC) along with fingerprint verification to qualify for casting their votes. Once deemed eligible, a printer would generate both a receipt and a vote, each featuring a unique vote number and a confidential barcode. The barcode serves to facilitate the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) machine in verifying the votes during the counting process. Voters would retain the receipt as evidence of their vote and proceed to cast their vote in the designated voting box.
Adopting such a mechanism can reduce the cost of General Elections. The ECP can leverage the existing biometric verification facilities already in place with telecom companies, banks and NADRA. Voters could conveniently visit designated branches of banks or telecom companies to cast their votes, eliminating the necessity for additional security measures or extra personnel. Every vote would undergo verification through a biometric fingerprint, NIC, face image and a printed vote. This approach eliminates the need for printing and distributing physical votes, as well as the use of ink stamps, thereby minimising the chances of ineligible votes.
Shahryar Khan Baseer
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2024.
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