On Wednesday, it was reported that the Punjab government may use electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the next local government elections.
The use of electronic machines in the LG elections, which are set to take place next year, was discussed at a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.
While approving the ruling party’s policy of digitalizing the electoral process, the chief minister also directed senior party leaders to consult with the ruling party’s allies, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), which had previously expressed reservations about the ruling party’s attitude toward its allies.
Buzdar told the meeting’s attendees that the text of the new local government legislation had been developed in cooperation with allies and a variety of stakeholders. He went on to say that it will empower individuals at the grassroots level.
The provincial government’s decision to utilize electronic voting machines in the LG elections comes after the federal government enacted an order allowing electronic voting machines to be used in the forthcoming local government elections in Islamabad on November 24.
The federal administration amended the Elections Act of 2017, which was enacted in a joint session of parliament earlier this month despite vehement opposition.
The amendments authorized the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and gave overseas Pakistanis voting rights, both of which the opposition has criticized.
