ISLAMABAD - Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has registered as many as 631,909 overseas Pakistani voters for giving them right to vote in bye-polls in 37 constituencies on October 14.
According to an official of ECP, during registration process started from September 1, all overseas Pakistanis had been asked to register themselves as voters by due date. He said the commission had also extended the date for registration of overseas Pakistanis from September 15 to September 17 for exercising their right of casting vote in bye-elections. He said all registered overseas Pakistanis voters would have the right of casting vote in bye-election through I-Voting system.
He said a letter had been written to the Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct the Pakistani missions abroad to educate overseas Pakistanis regarding registration process and right of their vote in bye-elections in their respective constituencies.
He said the ECP will deliver stipulated time voting passport to overseas Pakistanis to avail the opportunity of I-Voting for casting their vote in bye-elections being held in 37 constituencies on October 14.
The official added the commission will generate voting passport system for registered overseas Pakistanis on October 14 and all eligible voters can cast their vote during Pakistan Standard Time from 8:00am to 6:00pm on polling day. He said all registered overseas Pakistanis voters will have right of casting vote in bye-elections through I-Voting system.
He said for eligibility of registration and casting their votes, overseas Pakistanis need to have machine readable passport, National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis and their valid email address. He said through ECP’s special software, the overseas Pakistanis will be able to cast their vote by using their email.
He added a specific website has been developed jointly by ECP and NADRA for awareness and other aspects to encourage overseas Pakistanis to register for I-Voting with instruction in English and Urdu.
He said I-Voting is a pilot project and after use of this system, the commission will compile and submit a report with the parliament for further legislation. - APP