ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the previous elections, the automated response from 8300 mobile phone SMS does not mention the name of the ‘polling station’ for voters in Islamabad.

Citizens who want to know the polling station where their vote is registered can SMS their ID card number to 8300 from any mobile network.

However, the reply lacks the detail of the polling station and only the technical description of the polling station is received in the sequence of their ID card number, block code, ward details, sector/area, male and female ward, UC/committee number and sector/area.

So a resident cannot determine the polling station where he has to cast their vote.

On the other hand, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that a new online mapping of the polling stations for the local government elections had been introduced.

This is provided on a pilot basis to assist the voters, polling agents, media and observers to locate and identify the polling stations.

Under the new system, the location of each polling station would be displayed on a satellite view or a recent photograph of the area.

The photos and map locations were compiled under the direction of the returning officers.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015