The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally submitted its report on electronic voting machines (EVMs) to Parliament, transferring the ball into the legislators’ court regarding the future of digital elections in the country, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.
The report, based on a comprehensive review of Brazil’s electronic voting experience, outlines that the use of EVMs in Pakistan requires key prerequisites, including legal amendments and broad political consensus.
According to the ECP’s findings, Pakistan currently lacks the technical expertise necessary to adopt election technologies at a national scale. It emphasised the need for safe, cost-effective, and well-consulted technological integration, warning against rushing into EVM implementation.
The report calls for a strong and accountable technology infrastructure to ensure transparent elections and categorises EVM rollout as a major investment project. It suggests that locally manufactured voting machines could be more effective and beneficial in the long run; however, local production may take several years to become viable.
The ECP has advised against hasty decisions on adopting EVMs, insisting that the project must be initiated only after thorough parliamentary scrutiny. The report notes that although India and Brazil have successfully implemented EVMs, those countries introduced the technology with long-term planning and systemic readiness.
It also acknowledges that EVMs can play a vital role in restoring trust in the electoral process but stressed that Pakistan’s electoral system must align with ground realities before any technological overhaul.
The Commission highlighted that under the Election Act 2017, pilot projects for EVMs and biometric machines are essential and have already been conducted. However, no further steps should be taken without full parliamentary consultation.
The report reaffirms the ECP’s commitment to continue testing machines from different countries but reiterates that any future advancements must be based on legislative collaboration.
Lastly, the ECP reminded that pilot project reports on both EVMs and biometric machines have been submitted to Parliament, urging lawmakers to initiate full debate and discussion before moving forward.
Reporter: Usman Khan