14th November 2011
UK election solution provider DRS Data Services Ltd, has
successfully provided their specialist electronic ballot
counting technology for the Oman Majlis A'Shura Legislative
Council elections that took place on 15th October.
As a global leader in the provision of election
technologies, DRS works with electoral management bodies,
commissions and supporting organisations across the world
and has first-hand experience working with established and
emerging democracies, providing election technologies for
both the casting and counting of votes and also the initial
establishment of a secure and robust voters list. This most
recent provision builds on the previous successful use of
DRS technologies to support the 2007 and 2003 elections in
Oman.
Once again this project was delivered locally and in
collaboration with Bahwan IT, DRS' partner in Oman,
integrating DRS high speed real time ballot counting
technology with Bahwan's bespoke Arabic language secure
election application.
Approximately 600,000 ballot papers were provided by DRS,
along with 83 scanners located in 61 regional counting
stations. Reports in Oman confirm that voter turnout was
around 76% and each voter was authenticated at the polling
station using a National ID Smartcard, before casting their
vote for one of the 1000+ candidates on one of 61 ballot
paper types.
DRS worked with their local partner, Bahwan IT, to assist
in the delivery of a training program enabling local count
centre staff to understand the methods required to prepare
ballot papers and to operate the scanning technology.
Results, once captured at each local centre, were
transmitted and consolidated at a central site. The use of
technology meant that the time taken to produce a result
was significantly reduced, as was the number of staff
required to count the ballot papers. The results were
actually declared within 12 hours of voting ending.
Bahwan IT General Manager, M K Janaki Raman, was quick to
praise DRS, saying; "The Oman elections went well, thanks
to the excellent support from the DRS team. The entire
process of voting and counting was well over in less than
24 hours….we would like to place on record our appreciation
to the DRS management and to the entire team for having
supported Bahwan IT in this crucial project."
DRS Head of Elections, Sonya Anderson, said; "In 2003 and
2007 DRS had the opportunity to support the election
process in Oman. We were delighted that our partner
organisation Bahwan IT and the Ministry of Interior in Oman
once again selected DRS technology for this mission
critical process and once again the technology has
delivered the benefits of speed, accuracy and
security."
Additional information
Established in 1969, DRS is a global leader in the
provision of election technology, with proven skills and
expertise to manage data capture projects of any size or
complexity around the world. DRS' comprehensive
technologies offer security and reliability whether
utilised for capturing voter registration details or for
facilitating the voting process itself in electronic voting
or counting projects. Providers of hardware, software,
printed ballot papers, technical support, training and
advice, DRS has delivered efficiency and security to the
electoral administration process in countries as diverse as
Norway, Oman, Hong Kong and Bosnia & Herzegovina and
continues to be the UK market leader in e electronic
counting hardware and software systems.
DRS have played a significant role in many ground breaking
electoral modernisation projects both in the UK and
worldwide. Working with many of the election associations
including the UK AEA, the ACEEEO, IFES and the Association
of African Election Authorities, DRS has been able to
demonstrate measurable benefits to the electoral
administration process. Visit www.drs.co.uk for more
details.
About Bahwan IT
Bahwan IT is a division of The Suhail Bahwan Group which was formed as a Partnership Company in 1965 and today ranks as one of Oman's foremost business houses. It has interests in engineering and construction, manufacturing and industrial investments, information technology, trading and specialised services among others. The Group comprises of more than 40 companies with a combined currently annualised turnover of more than US$ 3 billion (2008) and employs over 15,000 personnel. Many of the Group companies are market leaders in their field, not only in Oman but in the entire Gulf Region.
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