According to an official of the ECP, overseas Pakistanis have been asked to register themselves as voters by the due date so that they can exercise their democratic right to vote in the by-elections for 37 constituencies on October 14.
The official said that all registered overseas voters would be able to use the iVoting system.
He said that a letter had been submitted to the secretary of the foreign affairs ministry to direct Pakistani missions abroad to educate overseas Pakistanis on the registration process and extend to them all possible assistance to participate in the by-elections.
He further elaborated that the ECP would prescribe a specific time window for overseas citizens to use the iVoting system.
All eligible voters will cast their votes between 8am and 6pm – Pakistan Standard Time – on polling day.
The official said that overseas Pakistanis must have machine readable passports, national identity cards for overseas Pakistanis, and valid e-mail IDs in order to register themselves as voters.
The Election Commission will use special software, which will allow overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes by using their e-mail.
He said that the ECP had, in partnership with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), launched a website designed to help and inform overseas Pakistanis who wished to vote in the by-elections.
The iVoting system, he said, is a pilot project and after its first use on October 14, the commission would submit a report to parliament, which might then proceed to enact further legislation if necessary.
The official said that the Election Commission is expecting overseas Pakistanis to take advantage of the new facility, and stressed that their co-operation is important in the success of the programme.
He said that the facility would allow millions of Pakistani citizens living abroad to become part of the democratic process in the country.
