Jordan Times
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Gov’t to introduce computerised voting system
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — The government is planning to introduce a computerised voting system for
the 2007 parliamentary elections, Interior Minister Awni Yarvas said on Monday.
“We have instructed the head of the technology and computer department at the
ministry to draw up a plan to conduct the coming elections through a
computerised system,” Yarvas said.
The minister’s remarks were made during a meeting with the local press
yesterday, organised by the Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ).
This system, Yarvas added, will ensure that future elections will be conducted
in the utmost “transparency... and will enable candidates to learn their results
early.”
In the 2003 parliamentary elections, 56 cases of election fraud were filed
against deputies by public contestants. Former Interior Minister Samir Habashneh
said at the time that ministry officials confiscated several ID cards that were
tampered with and could have been used repeatedly at the polls.
Meanwhile, Yarvas reiterated his ministry’s commitment to improving the services
provided at the Kingdom’s borders, especially the Karamah border crossing
connecting Jordan with Iraq.
“Improving services at the Karamah border point is our priority because it is
the future conduit between Iraq and Jordan,” he said.
The minister revealed future plans to reduce the amount of time it takes to
cross the border, including installing specialised points where drivers can
complete border procedures without leaving their vehicles.
Commenting on the ministry’s philosophy in dealing with citizens, Yarvas said
the relationship is based on respecting the opinions of everyone, adding that
ministry employees have been instructed to speed up citizens’ transactions.
“We can assure everyone that the relationship between the ministry and citizens
will continue to improve,” added Yarvas, who served as the director of the
Passports and Civil Registration Department before being appointed as a minister
in April 2005.
In response to a question posed by a journalist, the minister said the
government has not revoked Jordanian fugitive Abu Mussab Zarqawi’s nationality.
“Such a decision should be first upheld by the Cabinet before we revoke his
nationality and no action has been taken in this regard,” the minister
explained.
Zarqawi, who has a $25 million bounty on his head, has been handed two death
sentences by the State Security Court for his involvement in terrorist attacks
in the Kingdom.