Pakistan Seeks to Modernize Electoral Process Through Brazilian Expertise in EVMs

Brasilia, A high-ranking Pakistani delegation, led by Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, has completed a significant three-day visit to Brazil to study the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in electoral processes. The visit underscores Pakistan’s intent to enhance the transparency and efficiency of its voting mechanisms by potentially adopting technologies proven in countries like Brazil and India, where EVMs are utilized nationwide.

According to Press Information Department, the delegation, which included Provincial Election Commissioner (Punjab) Mr. Aijaz Anwar Chohan, Director General (IT) Mr. Muhammad Khizer Aziz, and Director Mr. Nadeem Zubair, engaged in detailed discussions with various heads of Brazil’s Election Management Body, the Tribunal Superior Electoral (TSE). These meetings focused on understanding the technological, operational, and security aspects of Brazil’s EVMs, which are renowned for their advanced features and reliability.

During the visit, the Pakistani officials were briefed on several key aspects of the Brazilian electoral process, including the strengthening of social confidence in elections, the specifics of the Brazilian EVM system, the identification systems used during polling, and strategies to combat disinformation. A practical demonstration of the EVMs was also conducted to provide firsthand experience of the technology.

The climax of the visit was a meeting between Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja and the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Brazil and President of the TSE, Mr. Alexandre de Moraes. The discussions delved into critical topics, particularly the application of EVMs, which are considered for pilot projects in Pakistan.

Moving forward, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) plans to conduct an in-depth study of Brazil’s electoral systems in the context of implementing EVMs. This initiative will be spearheaded by the Information Technology Wing and the Project Management Unit of the ECP, aiming to modernize Pakistan’s electoral processes and enhance the integrity and efficiency of future elections.