The tech-savvy ECP

The pervasive nature of technology has made inroads into every aspect of the lives of people. Technology allows wireless access to almost everything — in a mere touch on the smartphone or a click of the mouse. Technology has also started to gel well with the Pakistani population — something evident from the growing penetration rate of smartphone devices, like laptops, tablets and smartphones, in the country. Good to know that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has realised that it needs to catch up with a world that is driving extremely fast on the digital highway. The electoral body has taken various tech-savvy measures to guide voters on the polling exercise.

Click ECP 2018 is an app that can be downloaded free of charge on the smartphone to access election details. The ECP has introduced the app to help voters find out whether or not their vote is registered, where to cast their vote and for which constituency. The app can also be used to stay updated with the election-related happenings, including the results. An updated short messaging service is yet another step meant to enable voters to acquire the exact address of their polling station, just by sending their computerised national identity card number to 8300. The messaging service was available earlier as well, but only to provide constituency details.

In yet another digital move, NADRA will activate the Result Transmission System (RTS), an android application that enables election officers to send the results to the ECP in real time. Presiding officers will have the RTS installed on their smartphones, enabling them to transmit the form containing tabulated results of the polling station to the ECP via their phone.

These measures will help voters to avail their right to vote, and they will also facilitate the election staff in the discharge of their duties, besides serving as a step towards bringing transparency to the electoral process.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2018.

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