EC gets new data storage system

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THE Electoral Commission has received an election management system to prepare for the 2022 national election.
The system was given by the government of the Republic of Korea.
The delivery of the data storage system was part of the preparation process that the commission was undertaking to transition from the current manual voting system to an electronic one by 2022.
Electoral commissioner Patilias Gamato, pictured, yesterday said it would improve the electoral process in Papua New Guinea.
“PNGEC will be putting out a public tender notice in the coming days to call for expressions of interest from competent and reputable information communication and technology (ICT) companies to supply the biometric voter registration system,” he said.
Gamato said the commission was now one of the state organisations privileged to have in place an advanced data centre.
“This advanced data centre was establishment with the support and assistance of the people and government of the Republic of Korea through the Association of World Election Bodies.”
Gamato said after the 2017 national election the commission had taken initiatives which included the use of technology aimed at improving election outcomes.
“PNGEC is working closely with the Constitutional Law Reform Commission (CLRC) on amendments to legislation (election laws) to use technology in PNG elections. With the use of technology, PNGEC aims to reduce and prevent most of the problems faced during each election year.”
Gamato said some of the problems and issues associated with the elections they hoped to address with the new system included:

  • Voter registration and identification;
  • the high costs involved in conducting elections;
  • election-related violence, killings and destruction of property; and,
  • The high number of election petitions, judicial recounts and legal bills.

Meanwhile Korean Ambassador to PNG Kymgu Kang said his government was happy to help PNGEC fulfill the country’s Mid-term Development Plan III to have the electronic voting system for the 2022 national election.