Automation of election processes didn’t produce expected results, audit report

The implementation of the State Register of Voters is delayed, while the automation of the election processes didn’t produce the expected results, shows a report by the Audit Office, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to Gheorghe Antoci, division head at the Audit Office, though the largest part of the financial resources of the Electoral Support to Moldova Project (US$4.5 million) have been used, the results are not visible. The remaining US$600,000 will not change the situation until the project is completed in August. “The State Register of Voters doesn’t work. The method of transmitting the data to the Register and the changes in the data wasn’t worked out, while the conception of the state automated information system “Alegeri” (“Elections”) reveals the necessity of solving a series of technical and organizational problems and of modifying the legislation,” Gheorghe Antoci said when presenting the audit report. According to auditors of the Audit Office, when the project was launched the real capacities of the institutions responsible for the automation of the election processes weren’t taken into account. Problems are encountered with the protection of personal data, obtaining of digital signature by people, the voters’ ability to use the information technology. Andrei Cusca, representative of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, said that a new digital strategy that will solve a number of problems is being designed. There will be set up new centers for issuing the digital signature. The digital signature will be issued for a year, not for five and at reasonable prices. Iurie Ciocan, chairman of the Central Election Commission, said the institution that he heads received consultancy and expertise within the given project. According to him, it’s not yet certain when the Moldovans will be able to vote electronically. “The technical solutions for working out the automated register “Alegeri” can be bought. The important thing is for the politicians and civil society to have confidence in this information technology,” he stated, adding that if there is no confidence the election results will be challenged.