CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
Based on the humane activities of our esteemed President and Hero Arkadag, effective work is being carried out in all areas of our country, including in the electoral processes to develop the capabilities of digital technologies. Work on the development of the digital system is carried out consistently, relying on national and foreign experience.
The use of innovative technologies in voting has recently become widespread. Looking closely at the international experience, we can see that every year the number of States that already use remote electronic voting systems in elections or discussing the possibility of using them is increasing. However, it is important to note that there are also risks along with the advantages and positive results of using digital voting technologies in elections.
The main advantages of using innovative voting technologies are:
– saving time spent on voting and modernizing society;
– stirring up efforts to attract voters, especially citizens living (or planning to live) abroad to vote;
– improving the conditions for the participation of voters with disabilities and speakers of national minority languages living in the country;
– reducing the cost of preparing and holding elections;
– at the same time the possibility of holding several types of elections;
– lowering the risk of incorrect filling of voting paper;
– higher accuracy of vote counting and faster publication of election results and other advantages.
The main risks of using innovative voting technologies include:
– the problem of ensuring the secret of voting;
– elaboration of additional regulatory legal acts regulating the use of innovative electoral technologies;
– introduction of modification and additions to the electoral legislation in connection with the use of innovative technologies;
– rising expenses for the acquiring and implementation of innovative voting technologies;
– the need for additional training for members of election commissions on the use of innovative voting technologies;
– the need for additional information to voters about the use of innovative voting technologies;
– reorganization of personal data accurately identifying voters in accordance with the established procedure;
– the difficulty of controlling whether a voter votes without compulsion (through compulsion, deception, threats or forgery), independently, freely and voluntarily;
– ensuring the reliability of remote electronic voting reports;
– ensuring cybersecurity of innovative voting technologies and other risks.
Thus, according to experienced international experts, we must know that ensuring the protection of the will of the voter through the use of innovative voting technologies in elections is one of the basic democratic principles of electoral law.
We wish health, long life and success in noble deeds for the benefit of all humanity to our Hero Arkadag and our Hero Arkadag Serdar, who create broad opportunities for improving all systems, including the electoral system of a peaceful and democratic country.
Gandymov Amangeldi,
Deputy chairman of the Central commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan.