Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA) took part in a workshop titled ‘Technology and Election’, organised virtually by the Secretariat of Electoral Affairs at the League of Arab States, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on June 6-8, 2022.
Bringing together representatives from electoral authorities around the Arab world, along with regional and international organisations, the workshop sought to promote knowledge and enhance capabilities in the electoral sector in the Arab region.
The various topics on the agenda aimed to facilitate the exchange of expertise in using technology in electoral processes, flag potential opportunities and challenges facing Arab electoral authorities and committees, and explore best practices and optimal uses for advanced technologies in the Arab world. Key objectives from the event included enhancing the integrity and transparency of the elections, and provide a platform to raise awareness about technological advancement in electoral processes and the impact of the digital age in that regard. The workshop also strived to establish collaboration channels to ensure sustained communication among electoral authorities and relevant regional and international organisations.
The session was attended by Badriya Alblooshi, Director of the Department of Electoral Affairs and Political Development at the MFNCA, and Hessa Al Mansoori, Director of the Ministry’s Department of Information Technology.
His Excellency Sami bin Adi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the MFNCA, said: “Participating in the ‘Technology and Elections’ workshop forms part of our commitment, at the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs, to exchange knowledge and expertise, explore distinguished experiences in organising electoral processes – all in an effort to run elections according to the highest standards, meet the aspirations of Emirati citizens, and enhance the FNC elections experience, which is ranked among the best in the Arab world and wider region.”
“It is essential that we optimise the use of modern technologies in the electoral process to enhance accuracy, transparency, and speed in announcing election results,” H.E. bin Adi explained, citing the Federal National Council elections as an example. “The UAE was a pioneer in implementing the electronic voting system in all FNC elections since the process was launched in 2006, which helped ensure accuracy, transparency, and integrity in all subsequent elections, in addition to ensuring the satisfaction and happiness of all parties involved in the electoral process.”
The workshop featured a series of panel discussions, including a session on ‘Technology and Its Role in Administering and Documenting Voter Registration’, which sought to evaluate the lessons learned from previous cycles, in addition to a discussion on ‘Modern Technology on Election Day’, where experts explored the use of technology in elections and its impact on the election committee, and a session on ‘Using Technology to Raise Voter Awareness’ that examined leading international experiences in electoral management.
Also on the agenda is a session on ‘The Use of Technology by Electoral Authorities’, which discussed South Africa’s experience in that regard, followed by a discussion on ‘The Impact of New Technologies on Elections: Big Data and Social Media’ that highlighted the use of technology as a means to spread and enhance the quality of information online. The workshop concluded with a session on ‘Technology in Election Observation Missions’, which included a presentation on the technology used in the various diplomatic missions of the League of Arab States.
Source: Ministry of State for Federal National Affairs, UAE