Elections 2013: ECP receives voter education boost

UNDP hands over first set of voter education material to Election Commission of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan handed over the first set of voter education materials to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday, according to a press release issued by the UNDP.

These materials, which include stickers, posters, t-shirts, caps, pens and badges were provided to ECP district officers with the aim of aiding their initiative to reach out to voters across Pakistan in light of the upcoming general elections.



Earlier this year, UNDP trained more than 200 regional and district officers of the ECP on voter education, the first time such an initiative has been conducted in the latter’s history. In collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the ECP is launching a campaign targeting youth and women, an initiative that it hopes will improve voter turnout during the imminent elections. Marc-André Franche, Country Director for UNDP Pakistan, has endorsed improving voter turnout amongst traditionally marginalised segments of society.

“Together with the ECP and other partners, we are working to increase the number of voters in these elections particularly women, first time voters and minority groups,” Franche said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2013.