Draft Resolution 1.
0
Committee: The Pakistan National Assembly
Author: Siraj Ul Haq
Subject: Electoral System and Election Commission
The National Assembly of Pakistan,
Acknowledging the importance of a fair and transparent electoral system in a
democratic society,
Recognizing the need for an independent and impartial Election Commission to
oversee electoral processes,
Emphasizing the significance of electoral reforms to ensure the integrity and
effectiveness of the electoral system,
Noting the challenges and issues faced in previous electoral processes, including
allegations of rigging and malpractices,
Article 1
Definitions
1.Defines electoral system or voting system as a set of rules that determine how
elections and referendum are conducted and how their results are determined,
2.Defines election commission as an independent, autonomous, permanent and
constitutionally established federal body responsible for organizing and
conducting elections to the national parliament,
Article 2
Amendments to election system policies
3.Encourages the government to make sure that electoral commission should be
independent, impartial, and free from political interference;
3.1) should be responsible for organizing and conducting elections, managing
voter registration, and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process;
a) government to allocate necessary resources and support to the Election
Commission for the successful implementation of electoral reforms,
4. Calls for the formation of a neutral body which will manage all the finances
spent on election;
4.1) It will keep an eye on the allocation, disbursement and mobilization of
these finances,
4.2) this body should regularly report about its proceedings with the finances
transaction history,
5. Urges that the electoral bodies should establish clear guidelines for campaign
finance reporting;
5.1) including deadlines for submitting reports, formats for reporting, and
penalties for non-compliance,
6. Encourages the Election Commission to require detailed reporting of all
campaign expenses, including the names of donors, the amounts of donations,
and the purposes for which the funds were used from the parties;
7. Calls upon the Election Commission to make all finance data publicly available,
to ensure transparency;
8. Requests the Election Commission to work closely with civil society
organizations, international observers, and other relevant bodies to monitor and
assess the electoral process and recommend improvements;
Article 3
Participation of women and minority groups
9. Urges electoral bodies to address barriers to participation that
disproportionately affect women and minorities;
9.1) such as language barriers, lack of access to transportation, and cultural
norms that discourage women from running for office,
a) this can include providing translation services, organizing transportation
for voters in remote areas, and working with community leaders to promote
gender equality and social inclusion,
10. Further urges the government form electoral bodies to promote positive
campaigning practices that focus on issues rather than personal attacks;
Article 4
Media and technology
11. Calls for the implementation of strong cybersecurity protections for election
infrastructure;
11.1) such as voter registration systems; requiring voter-verified paper
ballots; replacing old voting machines; and conducting fast and effective audits of
election results,
12.Request the Governments to protect media freedom and ensure that the
media is free to report on electoral issues without fear of reprisal;
13. Appeals for Election commissions to explore the use of big data analytics to
gain insights into voter behavior, preferences, and trends to achieve;
13.1) more informed decisions by election officials,
13.2) identification of the areas where additional resources or interventions
may be needed,
14) Recommends the Election Commission to collaborate with technology
companies to develop innovative solutions for the electoral process;
14.1) this can include partnerships with tech startups to develop new voting
technologies,
15) Emphasizes the need for Election Commission Election to provide online
resources and information to voters, including information on candidates, polling
locations, and voting procedures for increasing voter engagement and reducing
the chances of misinformation spreading.
