Unique e-voting system is to be tested in Bishkek

October 29, 2015

Elections for new student senators will be held soon at the American University of Central Asia. This year, the AUCA Student Senate adopts new e-voting system.

Implementing this project with the assistance of the Integra engineering group, AUCA presents an e-voting system unique and innovative not only for the university, but even for the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia.

As a pilot project for e-voting in Central Asia, AUCA seeks to set an example to the Kyrgyz government. The project conveys how electronic voting system can work, making the falsification of voting figures impossible, thus encouraging more transparency in the election process. This election will be the first of its kind, showing the advantages of the e-voting system and the willingness of the AUCA community to adopt innovations for the benefit of Kyrgyz society!

The election includes several stages:

biometric data collection
identification at ballot day
voting via touch-screen system
after that, a voting machine prints a unique bar code, which records voters choice and name. The voter then has to drop the ballot in the ballot-box. This procedure allows an accounting for indirect monitoring in case of complaints, etc.

Towards the end of the election, the voting machine automatically counts the candidates with majority of votes and determines the new senators. If a re-count is requested, the ballot-box containing bar codes will be opened.

Unlike the current voting system in the Kyrgyz Republic, the e-voting system rules out the possibility of ballot rigging, because there is no manual counting of ballot papers. In addition, the election commission is not able to have an influence on voting.

American University of Central Asia is pleased to invite any observers from the Central Election Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, political parties and anyone else who would like witness the new voting procedure.

The election will be held on November 6^th, 2015, in AUCA's new campus. If you would like to witness the election, you will need to register by sending an e-mail to Bermet Ismailova, Chair of AUCA Election Committee at ismailova.bermet@gmail.com.

For any questions, please call: +996 312 915 000 (ext.260)

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