EVMs, BVMs and online voting facility for overseas: ECP eyes preparing feasibility reports by December 2021

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) eyes developing feasibility reports by December 2021 on the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs), biometric verification machines (BVMs) and online voting facility for overseas Pakistanis in the general elections, in its 3rd Strategic Plan (2019-23).

Recently released the 42-page 3rd Strategic Plan reveals that the ECP has prioritised the introduction of EVMs, BVMs and online voting for overseas Pakistanis as its strategic goals under the head of "information, communication and electoral technologies."

The Commission, according to the Strategic Plan, would conduct more pilot tests of electoral technologies; EVMs, BVMs and overseas voting mechanisms, to develop feasibility studies for operational and legal consideration by Parliament and other relevant authorities by December 2021.

Moreover, the Strategic Plan indicates the Commission plans to improve electoral technologies used "during past elections to enhance transparency, awareness and efficiency in electoral processes by reviewing, optimising and upgrading the GIS (Geographic Information System), RMS (Result Management System), CERS (Computerised Electoral Rolls System) network, the ECP's social website, mobile applications, system for electronic transmission of results from polling stations, and intranet technologies by December 2022.

Moreover, under the 3rd Strategic Plan, the Commission eyes obtaining ISO-27001 certification for CERS and its policy implementation by May 2021.

Prior to the launch of the 3rd Strategic Plan, the ECP launched 1st Strategic Plan (2010-14) and 2nd Strategic Plan (2014-18). However, the Commission remained under sharp criticism from political parties, electoral watchdogs, civil society and public circles for failing to achieve key targets envisioned in both the previous Strategic Plans to ensure free and fair elections including the introduction of EVMs and BVMs in the general elections.

Though the ECP has used EVMs and BVMs at some polling stations during the by-elections held at certain seats of National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, the ECP's target to introduce EVMs and BVMs in the next general elections, scheduled in 2023, appears to be a challenge due to financial constraints and capability of the Commission to deal with technical hitches involving electronic voting, sources in ECP told Business Recorder.

In September 2017, the test run of 100 BVMs used in a by-poll at National Assembly's constituency NA-120 did not yield promising results as machines failed to read fingerprints of 12 per cent voters, the ECP had announced then.

Moreover, in what turned out to be a highly embarrassing episode for the ECP, its much hyped RMS suddenly stopped transmitting results of general elections on the night of July 25, 2018, reportedly due to a technical glitch. The ECP then had to manually transmit election results in a move that attracted strong criticism from political parties who questioned the transparency of the polls.

Meanwhile, the ECP has listed six 'guiding principles' and 11 'pillars' in the 3rd Strategic Plan: The guiding principles are: 1) independence and impartiality; 2) integrity and accountability; 3) efficiency; 4) transparency; 5) inclusiveness; and 6) service-mindedness and professionalism.

The pillars are; 1) legal framework, 2) electoral integrity and public perception, 3) institutional development, 4) training and capacity development, 5) election operations, 6) budget, finance and procurement, 7) voter registration and participation, 8) information, communication and electoral technologies, 9) electoral complaints and dispute resolution, 10) gender mainstreaming and social inclusion, 11) and monitoring, evaluation and research.