EC rules out digitisation of voting and vote counting
Zahid said ballot casting, counting, result tabulation and related processes would be carried out in the same manner as previous elections.
The Elections Commission (EC) has said voting and vote counting will not be digitised in any election.
Speaking on Raajje Miadhu on Thursday, EC chair Mohamed Zahid said administrative aspects of the local council elections would be digitised, but the act of voting, counting ballots and announcing results would continue to be conducted physically.
He said the approach would remain unchanged in upcoming elections. Zahid said ballot casting, counting, result tabulation and related processes would be carried out in the same manner as previous elections.
Zahid also said the EC is coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure the council elections are conducted in line with established procedures. He said voters can contact the commission to clarify election-related information.
He noted that some polling stations will handle ballots for around 70 constituencies in the council elections, and said priority is being given to training to manage the process. About 7,000 EC officials will be deployed nationwide, with 48 EC teams operating across the country.
The local council elections are scheduled for April. The government has also announced a plan to hold a ballot on conducting presidential and parliamentary elections on the same date.
Zahid said the submission of candidacy forms will be conducted online through a portal, replacing the previous requirement to submit forms in person at EC offices.
