ECP to hold workshop on Electoral Systems Module
23-27 June 2025
Pakistan
ECP holds workshop on Electoral Systems Module
By Aziz Bahadar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Electoral Academy for Democratic Practices, Research & Management (PADRM), the training arm of Election Commission of Pakistan, successfully conducted a five-day workshop on BRIDGE Module ‘Electoral Systems’ from 23rd to 27th June, 2025, for 20 newly recruited operational level officials of the Commission. Two BRIDGE Modules – Operational Planning and Electoral Systems, were included in the curriculum of a 16-week comprehensive on-going training programme with objective to equip and acquaint the officials with domain skills and an array of Electoral Systems adopted and practiced globally.
2. The Module was customized according to the learning needs and understanding of participants, who comprise a highly enthusiastic and talented bunch of 13 males and 7 females from diverse regional background with strong academic background, recruited through a country-wide competitive recruitment process. All thematic areas, such as the Underlying Principles of Electoral Systems, Basics of Electoral Systems, Three Common Types of Electoral Systems, Other Types of Electoral Systems, Implications of Different Electoral Systems, Comparing Electoral Systems, Representation in Electoral Systems, and Electoral System Change and Reform, were thoroughly covered by combining or regrouping various activities, simulations and mock exercises in sequenced sessions.
3. All electoral systems, whether classified in a particular family or unclassified as other small electoral systems, were broached, explored and compared in the framework of its three essential components, viz., i) District Magnitude (Single-Member vs Multi-Member, ii) Ballot Structure (Categorical vs Ordinal), and iii) Electoral Forumla (from the simple First Past the Post system to the more complex method of translating voters’ preferences in seats by Single Transferrable Vote and Borda Count), and that how these components work either in isolation or in combination to affect or change the course of outcomes of an election. The participants diligently engaged in all activities with keen interest and joyous disposition throughout the workshop. The Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, Secretary, Election Commission, Mr. Umar Hameed Khan and other senior ranking officials of the ECP also visited and observed the involvement of the participants in the activities and simulations. Mr. Ossama Kamel, senior BRIDGE facilitator and electoral expert, also delivered an online session from France as Guest Speaker and enlightened participants through expertise in the electoral systems and presented a case study of Egypt.
4. The participants were immensely impressed not only by the BRIDGE methodology, based on adult learning techniques coupled with interactive and participatory training approach but also much appreciated width, breadth and depth of theoretical knowledge embodied in the content whether in the form of discussions and debates or captured in reading material shared during the various sessions. In the last session, the participants in four groups drafted a separate comprehensive reform plan aimed at improvement in various local electoral systems for meaningful participation of electorate across the ethnic and socio-political spectrums.
5. The module was delivered by a team of local facilitators, led by Mr. Aziz Bahadar, Accrediting Facilitator as lead facilitator, Mr. Muhammad Yousuf, Workshop Facilitator, Mr. Abdul Qadir, TtF-complete and Ms. Safya Akbar, TtF-complete, who all belong to the Election Commission of Pakistan and had the in-depth understanding of the training needs of the participants. At the close of workshop, the participants gave verbal and written feedback, depicting that the event was enormously beneficial and productive that oriented and familiarized them with new vistas of comparative knowledge of different electoral systems at the outset of their career as election administrators. A few comments recorded in the evaluation sheets are quoted to gauge the level of satisfaction evinced by the participants. “BRIDDGE Module made me think out of the box by involving us in activities that were realistic and practical. Electoral Systems Module enabled us to understand different electoral systems. It was a good experience”, said one participant. “The Module was really helpful in comprehending the electoral systems that were totally new to me and enable me to draw comparison of different systems. I am thankful to the BRIDGE platform for such a valuable module”, said another participant. In the context of 16-week training programme, referring to the Electoral System Module, a participant said, “It was the best time of whole training. It encouraged participation, creativity and encouragement”. Similarly, another lady participant evinced, “BRIDGE is one training that does not make you sleep but make you brainstorm and think critically. Specially, the Electoral Systems Module was much needed one and it exceeded the expectations”. Certificates were distributed Ms. Nighat Siddique, Director General (Training), PADRM, ECP.
