Challenges and opportunities for implementing E-Voting in Pakistan: Comparative Analysis of India and Philippine

Abstract

Electronic voting is a revolution in the electoral system, which will provide convenience, efficiency and cost saving when practiced. This paper focuses on the technological, operational, and sociopolitical peculiarities of e-voting implementation in Pakistan with reference to India and the Philippines. By synthesizing from the existing literature and conducting surveys, this research explores how e-voting can be used to solve the problems such as electoral fraud, fast vote tallying, and increased participation. Accordingly, the research findings show that, though e-voting helps to democratically improve the efficiency of electoral processes, this activity successfully encountered severe challenges in Pakistan caused by such factors as insufficient infrastructure, low levels of e-literacy, and public skepticism about technology and voting. Comparative analysis highlights the parallelism of India and the Philippines, where security, system openness and voters’ sensitization remained effective drivers towards e-voting acceptability. Therefore, this research suggested that elements of good governance from the Indian and Philippine experiences including integrated and effective cybersecurity framework, independent audits and voter education on infrastructure and trust deficits in Pakistan will have to be tailored to fit the Pakistan context. In conclusion the study finds that with right phased and transparent implementation strategy, e-voting can act as a godsend to the Pakistan democracy to enhance the electoral transparency and integrity.

Keywords: e-voting; voters’ intention; election commission of Pakistan; Challenges; Opportunities; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Pakistan.