Pakistan backtracks on plans to test biometric verification machines for elections

According to a report in The Express Tribune, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) revealed that it will not be able to test biometric verification machines in upcoming by-elections as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will not share voter data.

In March, the ECP announced that it will acquire electronic voting machines (EVMs) and biometric verification machines (BVMs) for a trial run in by-elections to decide whether or not the technology can be used in the next general election.

The ECP had since purchased 100 biometric machines for the test run but NADRA has declined to share voter’s thumbprint and face photo data with the ECP.

In a statment, the ECP said; “We wrote letters to NADRA on May 26. Sent reminders on June 7 and June 9, but did not get any response. Subsequently, we sent copies of our letters to secretary interior and secretary National Assembly seeking their intervention. But did not get response from any side.”

Article Topics

biometrics  |  elections  |  identity verification  |  Pakistan  |  voter registration