An electronic voting system may be in place by next year, once the draft elections law is passed by the Shura Council’s Legislative Committee.
In a committee meeting, MP Maged al-Hellow proposed that electronic voting be implemented in elections and referendums within a year of the law’s issuance. The High Elections Commission would oversee the process.
Shura Council members proposed basing the system on the Indian electronic voting model, and seeking the aid of a communications expert.
However, the elections commission has objected to the proposal.
Omar al-Sherif, the deputy justice minister for legal affairs, expressed concern that hackers could attack the system and that it would be difficult to maintain secret voting.
Another government representative said in some remote areas of the country, internet service is unreliable, which could make it impossible to implement the system.
MP Ramy Lakah defended the proposal, saying that electronic voting would complete the country’s democratic transformation, and that this voting mechanism is particularly important for the expatriate community.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
