MoITT Starts Evaluating i-Voting Mechanisms for Overseas Pakistanis

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) kicked off evaluating internet voting (i-Voting) mechanisms, and solutions to digitalise the electoral process of Pakistan. Sources revealed that the MoITT has invited consultancy for the design, analysis and implementation of i-voting for overseas Pakistanis to maximise user/voter participation, by allowing them to vote from anywhere, and allowing access from different computer systems and from any device that had an internet connection.

The MoITT intends to select well-established, experienced, and innovative consultants for consultancy for the design, analysis, and implementation of internet voting for overseas Pakistanis.

MoITT Starts Evaluating i-Voting Mechanisms for Overseas Pakistanis

The Expression of Interest has been prepared on the basis of available information and recommendations of Internet Voting Task Force (IVTF) and other publicly available documents.

The sole objective of the document is to solicit a response from interested consultants for taking part in the future electoral process for overseas Pakistanis. Interested consultants may carry out their own study/analysis/investigation as required as part of their due diligence before submitting their responses.

Consultants having technical and financial strength have been invited to participate in this venture in which the ministry will participate to an extent of facilitation/sponsoring for the project (i.e. machinery/equipment/development/installation/functioning/operations etc).

The MoITT is in the process of selecting well-established, experienced and innovative consultants for consultancy for the design, analysis and implementation of internet voting for overseas Pakistanis through a competitive bidding process.

Based on the prequalification criteria set out in this document, pre-qualified consultants will be allowed to participate in the subsequent RFP.  Pre-qualified consultants have to complete the consultancy report/services within 45 days after the award of the contract.

It is expected that only consultants having proven experience in development/design, build, analysis, operation and maintenance of internet voting, and must have executed i-Voting projects will respond to this Expression of Interest notice.

The objective is to analyse prevalent i-Voting solutions/technologies along with existing i-Voting system developed by the NADRA and propose internet voting solutions/recommendations to maximise user/voter participation of overseas Pakistanis, by allowing them to vote from anywhere, and allowing access from different computer systems, and from any device using the internet.

The Terms of Reference of the process include;

• Conduct a detailed study of prevalent i-Voting solutions and approaches used across the world;
• Analyse the internet electoral processes and procedures in Pakistan;
• Analyse the i-Vote solution developed by the NADRA, identify its shortcomings and propose improvements;
• Perform a technical benchmarking exercise of countries with similar voting processes/procedures and the technology deployed;
• Propose the methodology, standards and best practices for implementing or configuring the i-Voting system for overseas Pakistanis keeping in view the recommendations by the IVTF;
• Provide recommendations for continuous improvements to the proposed internet voting methodology;
• Propose the procedures to ensure the integrity of the i-Voting process;
• Propose the solutions/mechanism to maintain audit trails without compromising the anonymity of users;
• Also, propose solutions to maintain the secrecy of the ballot in terms of i-Voting;
• Propose solutions/mechanism to ensure the security of i-Voting solutions;
• Analyse various E2E internet voting solutions;
• Propose a solution that is best suited to Pakistan and analyse various blockchain internet voting solutions. Also, propose a solution that is best suited to Pakistan;
• Any other proposition, in addition to the above, that adds value to the desired i-Voting mechanism/solution.