After the major problems with the e-voting system tested in Western Europe, some Eastern European countries has expressed their reservation in implementing such a system.
The Central Election Commission from Azerbaijan considered that
e-voting is not required in the 2009 referendum or in the 2009 local
elections and 2010 parliamentary vote.
Even though Azerbaijan is part of the Council of Europe’s Electronic
Voting Committee that has recommended the introduction of
Internet-based voting, the Central Election Commission Secretary, Natiq
Mammadov, explained online newspaper Trend News that there is no chance
to implement this for the next elections:
"We must have a reason to apply innovation as opposed to simply wanting
to. We do not need e-voting to increase the voter turnout in
Azerbaijan."
He also claimed that "there is no need to make hasty decisions about e-voting.
A similar decision was made in Macedonia in the beginning of 2009, the
leaders of the major parties deciding that no electronic voting will be
necessary for the next presidential elections and more time is needed
before the system can be set up. However, Macedonian politicians
supported to use such a system might be used in the next electoral
cycles.
No need for e-voting: Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (12.01.2009)
No e-voting in next elections (9.01.2009)
Source: EDRI-gram “No e-voting in Azerbaijan and Macedonia” Number 1, 14 january, 2009
