Public Access to Polling Station-Wise Election Results in Pakistan NOW

On May 11, an estimated 60 percent of Pakistan’s 86 million registered voters cast their votes in an historic election that will pave the way for the country’s first democratic transition from one civilian government to another. The threat of militant violence and terrorism - which marred the entire campaign season in the run-up to Election Day, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives - did not deter Pakistanis from going out and casting their ballots in polling stations across the country. A large segment of voters in this election consisted of people who had never voted before but were motivated by their real hope for change to come out and participate in the electoral process this time around.

However, while turnout in this election has been unprecedented, the election has been marred by allegations of rigging and fraud. The passion and hope that was inspired in Pakistanis by the prospect of a free and fair election is now in danger of burning out as they question whether their votes truly counted. In order to ensure public confidence in the electoral system and in democracy, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) needs to take action now in the interest of full transparency.

The only real evidence of whether rigging has or has not taken place in the 2013 General Elections is in the polling station-wise vote counts (along with copies of Form XIV) for every constituency. These are public documents and Pakistani citizens have the right to access them. We must ask the ECP to release this information to the public BEFORE results are officially notified - which means it needs to be done immediately, as the ECP will have to notify winners 10 days after Election Day (and no later than 15 days after Election Day). The ECP did release the polling station results after the last General Elections in 2008 - but not until more than six months later, when it was too late to file complaints.

Write to the Secretary of the ECP and request the immediate release the polling station-wise results of each constituency (along with copies of Form XIV) on the ECP's website before notifying official results. An objective analysis of polling station vote counts and corrective action by the ECP in cases of irregularities will enhance electoral transparency as well as build public confidence in the electoral process. There is every reason to hope that the ECP will fulfill this request and release the required information to the public.