A working group of the Standing Committee on State Structure that is preparing a draft law on the 2012 election met on Monday. Officials from the Election General Committee (EGC) and General Authority for State Registration took part in the meeting, at which the issues of technology and equipment were discussed.

Sources say the General Authority for State Registration is considering a plan to distribute “smart cards” to be used with electronic voting machines. They would be distributed by April 1, 2012. Officials said this system would help prevent fraud and irregularities. But some MPs wonder if the electronic voting machines will work properly.

Our correspondent asked EGC head N.Luvsanjav about the issue. He said the EGC had expected the draft law on the election to be passed by the end of the spring session. He said the EGC has decided to choose a voting technology that does not involve paper ballots. IT specialists would be assigned to voting districts in case of any problems. By law, the EGC will organize the parliamentary election but not local elections.