March 04: The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) is moving a step further in the area of Information technology. The Commission will soon introduce a technology known as biometric system. The system will be able to capture the information of a voter through a thumb impression.

The Commission is hopeful that the service will be used during the local government elections. The voters will not have to worry should they misplace their Voter Photo Identity Cards (VPIC) or forget it to bring during the polling day.

The biometric system will capture a voter’s information through thumb prints, which will be added in the electoral roll. On the poll day, one just has to walk in to the polling booth and press the device.

“Instead of looking for sheets and sheets of papers, you just have to press your thumb impression. The voters do not have to waste time unnecessarily,” said the Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi.

The system is being introduced to make the voting procedures as friendly as possible. The software will also help make verify a voter’s information. The system is also expected to help minimize the electoral related errors.

“If you are the right person, the computer will show the picture. This will help in minimising the electoral roll errors and also help people going through arduous process of verification,” Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said.

If the system is not in place during the local government elections on trial basis the Commission will use it during the parliamentary elections in 2013.