Iran to Order Electronic Ballot Boxes for Upcoming Elections
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian official announced that the interior ministry plans to order electronic ballot boxes to be made outside the country for the two upcoming elections due to be held in late February 2016.
After a series of studies conducted by the ministry, a prototype of the required electronic ballot boxes was manufactured, Siamak Rahpeyk, an elections official with Iran’s Guardian Council, told the Tasnim News Agency.
It will be sent to the Guardian Council in the coming days to be approved by the council, he added.
After the shape of the box is approved, the hardware, software, and security issues will be addressed, he noted.
Back in June, Iran’s cabinet passed a plan on holding the two upcoming elections using electronic voting machines.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for necessary preparation for holding electronic election using the experience of other countries.
After discussing a report by the interior ministry on the issue, the cabinet members approved a plan to hold the upcoming parliament and the Assembly of Experts elections electronically.
They are due to be held on February 26, 2016.
There are currently 290 seats in the Iranian parliament, known as Majlis, elected by direct vote of people in nationwide election for four years.
The Assembly of Experts is also a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Members of the assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term. It holds biannual meetings to appoint a new chairman.