ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral reforms, which met yesterday at the Parliament House, is meeting again today to discuss proposed amendments to the Election Act, 2017.
To ensure prompt submission of election results, the government is expected to introduce several amendments to the Election Act.
Chaired by Ayaz Sadiq, the committee will present its report on the proposed electoral reforms to the Parliament within 10 days.
During the previous session, the committee reviewed 70 out of 73 amendment proposals put forth by various political parties.
Some political parties expressed concerns about the delayed announcement of election results. They suggested rejecting results submitted after a certain delay.
The committee reached a consensus on making it obligatory to submit election results within a specified timeframe. If there is a delay, the presiding officer must provide valid reasons.
The returning officers should provide advanced communication devices to presiding officers, the committee proposed. The presiding officer must send a picture of the document containing election results along with their signature to the returning officer.
The interim government will be responsible for ensuring alternative methods of swift communication of results in areas where internet services are unavailable.
In addition to the aforementioned discussions, the parliamentary committee also addressed other crucial aspects of electoral reforms. One significant point of consideration was the need to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
Additionally, the committee examined ways to encourage greater voter turnout. They discussed measures such as voter education campaigns, outreach programs, and initiatives to facilitate voting for marginalized communities. The committee also highlighted other potential strategies to increase participation in the electoral process.
