Electronic Voting: Would it work in Pakistan?

 Originally published in Seedhi Baat .com.pk on  15 April 2013.

With the caretaker set up in place, millions of Pakistanis are soon going to the polls. However for an election that is taking place in this day and age, it is unfortunate that we are still relying on the age old voting techniques instead of using the cutting edge technology available to us.  So while we are still following the traditional route, let’s have a look at how the rest of the world is harnessing the potential of technology to conduct more economical, fair and transparent elections.

To begin with 2 important parameters in an electoral process are the “vote casting” and the “vote counting “processes. Based upon these two parameters the electoral process can be categorized into four types.

First is the Manual voting system, which is essentially a paper-based voting system in which votes are cast and counted manually, with no involvement of any mechanical or electronic machine.

Second system is the Mechanical voting system which reduces the human involvement in an electoral process to a certain extent. Normally in such a system the ballots are cast manually but counting is done through a specialized counting device..

The third type of voting is the electronic voting system. The term includes different methods of voting and encompasses the electronic means of casting and counting votes. The most commonly adopted version is a Direct Recording Electronic System which is essentially a standalone or networked computer. Voters can view ballots on a screen and make choices using input devices like buttons or a touch screen. Electronic Votes are stored on a memory card, compact disc and are transferred electronically or manually to a centralized location for counting.

Fourth type or the ideal type of voting system so far would be a public Internet voting system that could allow the voters to cast their votes over the internet from their desktops, laptops or mobile phones. In this system the casting as well as counting would be over a secure network and physical presence of a voter will not be required.

Although the first mechanized voting device was patented in 1892 but for nearly a century the United States was the only country using automated voting equipment. Over the years significant efforts had been carried out to develop and implement a voting system commensurate with modern technology in other  parts of the world .Few of the important mile stones achieved by different countries in last two decades  are:-

• Brazil introduced e-voting for its Parliament elections in 1996.
• First Internet Voting trial in Germany was conducted in 1998.
• Seven French cities in 1999 tested Internet Voting during the European Parliament Elections.
• Several states in the US implemented and run Internet Voting in 2000.
• In 2007, Parliament elections in Estonia were conducted through Internet voting.
• In 2008, German constitutional court ruling demanded transparency and verification mechanisms as an essential requirement for e-voting.
• The Netherlands banned the use of electronic voting machines in 2008.
• More recently Norway introduced Internet voting at the municipal elections and Swiss living abroad were able to cast their vote over the Internet.

Electronic Voting –Success Stories

Philippines Presidential Elections           

In the 2010 presidential elections of Philippines, optical scanning machines were used for the first time to automate the election process. More than 38 million Filipinos had their votes counted by optical scanning machines. This success of 2010 Filipino elections was rooted in a devastating presidential election six years earlier in 2004.  The hall mark of this system was the independent testing and software code review process to develop the trust of the voters on the system. The e-voting system helped Filipinos know the winner of the presidential election within 48 hours after the polls closed. Transparency, speed and the trust of people made the election a success.

Brazilian Success in e-Voting     

Brazilians have a comparatively longer history and interest in electronic voting. The process started back in 1986 when the Superior Electoral Court initiated the automation process by establishing single national registration numbers, which replaced the existing voter’s certificate. At that time with 70 million registered voters, it was the largest electronic registry of voters in Latin America. In the 1998 General Election, two thirds of all Brazilian voters had already voted electronically, because of the establishment of electronic ballot boxes. However, the electronic voting system project reached its peak in the 2000 Municipal Elections, which covered 100% of Brazilian voters. Later in 2008, a Biometric Voting System was introduced in the Municipal Elections to enhance the security of the voting.  In the 2010 general elections, more than one million Brazilians voted through biometrics. According to a survey, 88% of the voters rated the system as good or excellent quality of work.

It can be concluded that the electronic voting has many advantages apart from few limitations.

For Pakistan unfortunately the elections of 2013 have to be conducted in almost a century old manner. May be in the future we can finally start moving towards the transparent electronic voting system.

7 Reasons for Pakistani Women to Vote This Time

 Originally published in The News Blogs on  15 Apr 2013

Elections in Pakistan are due by next month. Although casting of vote is every citizen’s responsibility and there should be no gender discrimination whatsoever in this regard. However following are the eight special reasons for Pakistani women to vote this time: –

A Gossiping Opportunity

What more a women can ask for, than to talk endlessly with her gender mates. The Election Day presents a golden opportunity for gossiping and making new friends while waiting for the turn to vote. Thus ladies can freely discuss the problems of children, happenings in popular soaps and T.V serials, new recipes, latest fashion trends, guidelines for keeping a vigilant eye on ‘him’, deteriorating standard of education in schools , commodity price hikes and the all time favorite to crib about in laws. Thus wise ladies will not miss this once in a five-year gossiping opportunity to speak their hearts out and make new friends.

Summer Fashion Fiesta

A good thing about the upcoming elections in Pakistan is that they are being held on the start of summer season. For the fashion savvy ladies this is an excellent chance to try their wardrobe’s latest addition. Few hours spend at polling station would offer a unique opportunity to get a feeling of ongoing fashion trends. This could prove to be a much more enlightening experience than any fashion magazine, T.V show or a marriage ceremony. The Election Day would be an appropriate occasion to make a fashion statement through sunglasses, umbrellas, bags, cell phones and other accessories. Above all this once in a five-year time fashion get-together is free of cost and hence should not be missed at all.

Why to spend a dull holiday at home….

Whether a workingwoman, dedicated house wife or a college / university student, a Pakistani woman is bound to be a busy bee.  She is most likely to spend her holiday at home by engaging in routine tasks of housekeeping, cooking, cleaning, watching T.V, visiting friends, neighbors or relatives .Why not to break the dull and boring routine and go out for casting the vote. The routine chores can wait for the next holiday.

Exercising the “Influence” and using the “Women Power” …….

Women in Pakistan are influential in every role. As loving mothers, dedicated housewives, caring sisters or adoring daughters they are hard to neglect. Election Day gives enough leverage to Pakistani women to exercise their influence on the sluggish gender. Thus women can not only motivate but also insist and “order” the males to escort them to the polling station for casting the vote. The voting day can truly be a “Women’s Day” only if they realize and use their influence.

The Decision Maker’s vote for selecting the Decision Makers….

From managing home economics, to raising the kids and making key family decisions women are normally at the epi center of most important affairs encircling our lives. Being the primary customer (decision maker) for the consumers (members of family) her small and large decisions are vital. Thus as a decision maker in routine life, it is imperative to have her say in selecting the decision makers at a larger level. This factor in a way makes the importance of women vote “more” than men’s vote. 

·Majority Vote Bank….

The process of democracy starts with the casting of vote under free and fair elections. Vote casting is done to select capable individuals and the lynch pin of this political process hinges on the “majority” of votes. Pakistani women being 52 % are in majority and thus the burden of casting vote on the Pakistani women, in a responsible manner is more than on men.

Grooming today’s children for  future….

It might require a professionally designed research to ascertain how children are influenced, once parents go through a voting process and share the experience with them. Since in most of the cases children are influenced by mothers, so a woman casting her vote is in fact educating her children about the importance of voting. This can be a one way to groom today’s children as responsible citizens of tomorrow.

Voting by Women……A liberating Experience…

The voting experience by women provides them an opportunity to become an active stakeholder rather than passive followers. Voting empowers her to liberate and form her own opinion. Once cast her vote she can more confidently comment, criticize and appreciate the performance of the candidates once they resume offices. Thus voting by a woman is a liberating experience.

Keeping in view the past electoral experiences of Pakistan, this time every eligible Pakistani woman should make an endeavor to cast her vote responsibly. May be the majority vote of women could put a country so full of potential; on the right track that which had been ruined over the years mainly by the minority gender!