Parliament to start electronic voting
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga has said Parliament will start using the newly-introduced electronic voting system starting next week
Parliament. Parliament will start using the newly-introduced electronic voting system starting next week, the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has said.
Speaking to Daily Monitor early this week, Ms Kadaga said MPs will receive the user instructions on Monday and thereafter the system will be ready to run.
“I call upon all members to ensure they register in the new system so that we can be ready to keep a record of everybody,” she said.
Since then, MPs have been lining to update their records with the Parliament clerks.
Several MPs expressed optimism, saying the system would increase transparency in voting and attendance of the House.
“As the former chairman of the Science and Technology committee, I think it is the right way to go for our Parliament,” Ajuri County MP Hamson Obua said.
“It will help in issues of attendance since there will now be an electronic record of who attended and what time they came in,” he added.
Opposition Chief Whip Cecilia Ogwal said the new system is good because the House has always wanted transparency in voting, especially on controversial issues.
Kumi County MP Patrick Amuriat Oboi said if self-seeking politicians do not manipulate the system, it would be the best voting method in the House.
Parliament spokesperson Hellen Kaweesa said the money for the system was part of the nearly Shs18 billion that was released to install a state-of-the-art security system in the House.
“It is the modern system that is used all over the world now and that should be a plus,” she said yesterday.
“There is now more scrutiny in the House as we will have to scrutinise everyone, including the MPs.”
Miss Kaweesa, however, could not specifically tell how much electronic voting system cost.
The procedure
Inside the House, there are three computers at all the entrances. It is expected that MPs will sign in with a thumb print and sign-out out the same way to register their time of arrival and departure. There also three screens mounted on the upper decks of the House. The screens show the bio info of each MP on signing-in and it is those screens that will be showing the results whenever an electronic vote is taken.
