Electronic voting machines to make a debut in NA-4 by-elections

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised all arrangements for the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) as pilot test in NA-4 Peshawar by-elections.

Islamabad ECP Information Technology (IT) Director General (DG) Muhammad Khizar Aziz held a demo of the EVM for reporters belonging to different media organisations.

On the occasion, DG Khizar Aziz said that the use of technology in the electoral process was a revolutionary step of the ECP towards ensuring transparency and accuracy, while also facilitating voters in the system.

He requested all stakeholders to join hands with the election commission in conducting the coming general elections in accordance with the expectations of the people of the country. He stressed upon the contesting candidates of NA-4 to educate voters regarding the use of the new EVM technology, the lack of which would otherwise have a negative impact on the official results.

He further said that around 100 voting machines would be used in NA-4 by-election as a pilot project in 100 polling booths of 35 polling stations for the first time in the history of the country.

The political candidates hailed the efforts of the ECP for introducing the EVM to make voting process simple and effective. On the other hand, candidates were informed by the officials concerned that this pilot project would have no effects on the traditional voting procedure, and official results would be tested on pilot basis only.