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Russian e-voting systems to be tested in Ecuador

Russian electronic voting systems will be tested at several ballot stations in Ecuador's municipal election on February 23, 2014

BOGOTA, December 06, 16:09 /ITAR-TASS/. Russian electronic voting systems will be tested at several ballot stations in Ecuador's municipal election on February 23, 2014, chairman of the Central Election Commission of Russia Vladimir Churov, now visiting Ecuador’s capital Quito, told Itar-Tass by telephone on Thursday.

A protocol on co-operation concluded talks between Churov and the chairman of the National Electoral Council (NEC), Domingo Paredes. The Russian delegation has also visited ballot stations where the Russian equipment will be applied.

Paredes said “Ecuador wants to start developing its national technologies with foreign help” and “by 2021, e-voting should become the main way for the people to express their will”.

“To choose the equipment, Ecuador has invited three producers - Argentina, Russia and Venezuela,” Churov said. “Accordingly, ballot stations in three provinces will be equipped with these voting devices.”

These were not ballot boxes but electronic devices for paperless voting with a tactile screen, he said. Russian devices would be used in one of Quito’s suburbs.

“We hope our equipment will perform well,” Churov said. “It is also important to have comparative results.” It is the first time the devices have been exported and compared to foreign counterparts.”

Last September, an NEC delegation made a fact-finding visit to Russia on the nationwide common voting day, September 8.

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