Pakistan

Electronic voting machines to be introduced in 5 years

ECP has decided to introduce an Electronic Voting Machine system in phases to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

Asim Awan June 29, 2010

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.

COMMENTS (5)

Ahsan Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Good to see this step. May this step make Pakistan safe from those evils who always looted the position of our saviors. I can only expect that after this step Pakistan will be at the position where it has to be.

Hazoor Hussain | 14 years ago | Reply This is a good step to develop this machine within the country. I like that because it will be source of learning for developers and a kind of pride being true owners of this assets. I like that idea.

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Abrar Ahmad | 14 years ago | Reply Why wait for five years! Everything electronic means in a Jiffy. With Easy paisa, phone banking, e-commerce all up and running in the country, why can't the Govt make this facility available for the comming general elections. When done, these machines will initially be difficult to corrupt. After some years when methods for tampering these machines are found, we can switch to some other system.

Asif Khan | 14 years ago | Reply We are glad at least ECP and Political parties thinking and talking about this kind of automation. In my view ECP should not wait for 5 years to take phases approach. It should be implemented before next general election. I do agree pilot project needs to implement for assessment but that can be done on simulations or best actual ground can be used for coming Union council elections for assessment. Our country is not in a mode or situation where we talk about 5 years 10 years project. If there is a sincer will than it can be done in years time.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply This is a good step towards transparency. After introducing of Electronic Voting Machine, the angles will not be able to cast their votes.

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