Election matters: ECP to use latest technology to ensure transparent elections

HYDERABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is introducing state-of-the-art technologies, including a bio-metric system and a result management system to ensure free and fair elections. 

An official of the Regional Election Commission said on Thursday that introducing these technologies will not only eliminate chances of bogus voting but will also help compile results faster and in a more transparent manner.

He said that the ECP is developing RMS to induct Returning Officers and it would be directly linked to the centralised system of ECP. Results submitted by every polling officer to the returning officer would be fed to the system and through this process speedy and flawless compilation of overall results of the constituency will be ensured. The bio-metric technology will be used to verify the identity of a voter along with their thumb impression. He said that previously CNIC number and thumb impression of every voter was recorded on the counter-foil of the ballot paper but this new technology would help verify the identity if any objection related to bogus voting is filed after the polls are over.

The training sessions of the election staff are being conducted to familiarise them with these technologies so that they are properly utilised and the required outcome is obtained. This time a round polling officers will be given an electoral list carrying photograph and thumb impression of the voter to help establish the voter’s identity on the spot.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2013.