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by pltm
(PLTM) - With Cabinet’s approval for the use of E-tabulation in the upcoming General Elections, Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Andrew Fahie is somewhat distrusting of the method, calling for an audit trail to be implemented.
Back in September, use of the DS200 Precinct Scanner and e-poll books were given the go-ahead, and the Office of the Elections Supervisor had even held a mock election to test and sensitise the public on the machines.
However, speaking to BVI Platinum News recently, the Opposition Leader said that he is pushing for an audit trail.
“When you deal with a political race, you don’t deal with trust. You deal with ensuring there’s transparency and accountability, you deal with ensuring there’s an audit trail for everything that happens, because if you don’t get it right now during the election time and you do not win, you have four years to deal with that loss, so there’s a lot at stake on elections day,” he stated.
Further, he stated, “Whatever measures need to be put in place to ensure transparency, accountability and there's an audit trail…that cause must be championed. It has nothing to do with mistrust with the people in office, it has everything to do with making sure that you keep your eyes open for a race that your perceive will be highly contested and close in some measures.”
The audit trail that he desires must enable a possible recount, if needed.
“We need to have an audit trail on it; one for the machine with the ballot and two other receipts—one for the person that is voting and one in a box that’s being locked,” the Opposition Leader shared.
Questioned as to whether he is making this call based on the belief that attempts may be made to tamper with the results, Hon. Fahie said, “When you are dealing with a machine, you’re dealing with human error and the most important person for a machine for voting is the programmer. So we have to ensure that there are independent persons checking to see what was programmed. So that if you vote for A, the Vote goes towards A.”
He exphasised that while he is cautious with use of the machines, he is not against its use.
“I like the machines, I am pro for the machines, but I also saying that to put them in place without independent verification would raise some red flags.”
Supervisor of Elections, Ms. Juliette Penn had previously expressed her confidence in the machines, saying that it would enable fast results that are both secure and accurate.
