In summer of 2006, Election Commission of Pakistan started work of re-preparing electoral rolls of Pakistan. It was first time ever after 1988 that the commission was seeking to prepare the rolls a fresh. Not only this, but with funding from some foreign development agencies, the commission have computerized electoral rolls for the first time ever in over 6 decade history of the country. It is expected that the computerized voters’ list would reduce the chances of duplicate entry and would ensure accuracy and completeness of the electoral roll.

The commission has exhibited the draft electoral roll across the country by establishing 45203 display centers. Eligible voters, those citizens who age 18 years on or before January 1, 2007, can go to check their names in electoral rolls, register their voters, file forms for corrections in details or file an objection over certain registered voters. This is really a great moment in Pakistan. But surprisingly, as matter of fact, the majority of Pakistani people are disillusioned and disconnected from political processes due to their mistrust on government and their political leaders, there has been very low turn out in the display centers.

An indigenous civil society network, Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN) which comprises over 30 NGOs, is observing the display period. It has placed 750 observers across 110 districts of the country to check accuracy and completeness of the new electoral rolls and observe the process. As per their findings, a majority of display centers are found closed or non-functional. FAFEN’s member NGOs are also mobilizing and transporting eligible voters to display centers in almost 65 districts of country.

However, almost all mainstream political parties have shown their mistrust in the new computerized owing to the fact that there are only 53 million people registered in the new roll whereas up till 2002 general elections, there were 73 million registered voters.