Member Article

Milton Keynes firm help Oman elections

Milton Keynes based electronic processing specialist DRS Data Services have aided the smooth running of important elections in Oman.

The Oman Majilis A-Shura Legislative Council elections took place in mid October, and DRS worked with Bahwan IT, their partner in Oman to deliver high speed, real-time ballot counting technology.

Roughly 600,000 ballot papers were provided by DRS, along with 83 scanners located in 61 regional counting stations.

Turnout at the elections was reported to be 76%, and each voter was authenticated at the polling station using a National ID Smartcard.

In conjunction with Bahwan IT, DRS wored to deliver a training program enabling local count centre staff to understand the methods required to prepare ballot papers and to operate the scanning technology.

The results were captured at each local centre, and then transmitted to a central site, and meant that overall results were declared within 12 hours of the end of voting.

Head of elections at DRS, Sonya Anderson, said: “In 2003 and 2007 DRS had the opportunity to support the election process in Oman.

“We are 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.”

Bahwan IT general manager, M K Janaki Raman, added: “The Oman elections went well, thanks to the excellent support from the DRS team.

“The entire process of voting and counting was all 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.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .