Experts warned the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday that using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming elections would be premature and undermine concerns of transparency and confidentiality, which are essential voter rights.
The Pakistani Election Commission, for its part, provided a report to the committee on the usage of EVMs, which received 37 objections. However, it was acknowledged that introducing electronic voting gradually and step by step may help achieve the goal of justice and transparency.
The Pakistani Election Commission rejected the government’s request to utilise Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections on Tuesday, claiming that it would not be able to prevent election manipulation. During a meeting of a parliamentary committee of the Senate, the ECP stated that EVMs cannot ensure a transparent election in accordance with Pakistani constitutions.
The issue has gained traction when the government stated its intention to utilise the machines in the elections. The machine, according to the top electoral organisation, may be readily tampered with, and the software can be easily hacked.
It claimed that the technology could not eliminate horse-trading and that EVMs may be used to abuse state authority.
ECP went on to say that the system didn’t guarantee voter secrecy, that stakeholders aren’t on board, and that there isn’t enough time to test the equipment before the next general election.
It also stated that it lacked the financial resources to roll out EVMs across the country.
