Thimphu: Bhutan’s chief election commissioner Dasho Sonam Topgay said that the Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) have played in improving the efficiency of elections in his country. He shared this during an international conference of election management bodies organized by the Election Commission of India.
Topgay expressed his gratitude to India for providing EVMs, which he said have gained the trust of the people in Bhutan. “The EVMs have won the trust of the people in Bhutan,” said Topgay. He said that the machines have streamlined the electoral process and contributed to its smooth functioning. Since Bhutan began using these EVMs in its elections, they have been instrumental in bringing about process efficiencies.
Bhutan may introduce online voting for elections
In addition to discussing the impact of EVMs, Topgay spoke about Bhutan’s digital initiatives for voter authentication. He said that Bhutan uses a biometric Unified National ID system, which serves as a vital tool for ensuring the authenticity of voters. “Bhutan has a biometric Unified National ID which is used for voter authentication,” he said.
Looking to the future, Topgay said that Bhutan is exploring the possibility of introducing online voting for its elections. With this, the country makes efforts to adopt advanced technology to further modernize its electoral system.
Glimpses from “Session 1: Major Learnings from Election Year 2024”
In pic: Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius- Abdool Rahman Mohammad; Commissioner, General Elections Commission of Indonesia- Idham Holik & Chairman Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan- Nurlan ABDIROV
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— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) January 23, 2025
Indian EVMs used in Nepal, Namibia also
The Election Commission of India shared that Indian EVMs are also used in limited numbers in Nepal and Namibia. Indian public sector undertakings, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), manufacture these machines for the Election Commission of India.
According to PTI reports, EVMs in India have achieved a major milestone, having been used in five parliamentary elections since 2004, including Lok Sabha polls held in 2024.
