Pakistan’s Election Commission explores Electronic Voting Machines through Brazil visit

Islamabad, A delegation led by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan, Sikandar Sultan Raja, has visited Brazil to conduct a feasibility study on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in electoral processes. The visit reflects Pakistan’s initiative to enhance its voting systems and includes meetings with Brazilian electoral authorities to discuss EVM deployment.

According to Election Commission of Pakistan, the high-level delegation, which also comprised the Provincial Election Commissioner of Punjab, Aijaz Anwar Chohan, Director General (IT) Muhammad Khizer Aziz, and Director Nadeem Zubair, engaged in discussions with the Brazilian Election Commission and the Tribunal Superior Electoral (TSE) officials. They reviewed the electoral process of Brazil, recognized as one of the most technologically advanced globally.

The Pakistani delegation’s activities included meetings with the Secretary of Communication and Multimedia and the Secretary Information Technology, among others, who provided briefings and demonstrations of the Brazilian EVMs. Discussions focused on strategies to strengthen public trust in electoral processes, an overview of Brazil’s EVM, and methods to combat disinformation.

Notably, an important meeting took place between Sikandar Sultan Raja and the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Brazil, Mr. Alexander de Moraes, where they deliberated on key issues related to the adoption of EVMs.

The Election Commission of Pakistan plans to further analyze Brazil’s voting methods to consider implementing EVMs in Pakistan as part of pilot projects. This collaboration will involve the Commission’s Information Technology Wing and Project Management Unit as they proceed with this pivotal modernization effort.