Pakistan and India may be traditional rivals, but that has not stopped the smaller neighbor from considering the import of a controversial product from India — the electronic voting machine or EVM. The Indian Election Commission said its Pakistani counterpart has asked for a demonstration of the Indian machine and will soon send samples to it.
“Election Commission of India has agreed to send a technical team to Pakistan to demonstrate the Indian Electronic Voting machine (EVM) following a request made by the Pakistani Election Commission. The team from the EVM manufacturing companies, BEL and ECIL, will be deputed next month,” it said.
It said the Pakistan Election Commission is actively considering introduction of EVMs in their elections and looking at various options and the Indian Election Commissioner Dr Quraishi assured the Pakistan side of sharing of all expertise and of other necessary support.
Election Commissions of Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, USA and Russia and head of the US based International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) met the Election Commission separately after the launch of the National Voters’ Day seeking support and mutual collaboration in electoral management. Over 30 Election Management Bodies and related international organisations joined the Election Commission’s Diamond Jubilee valedictory and the launch of the National Voters day by President of India.
