Testing of a new electronic voter registration system is “running smoothly”, with more than 14,000 people registered across 24 provinces since the pilot project began on November 1, the National Election Committee announced yesterday.

The new bipartisan committee, which is tasked with organising new voter lists for the 2017 commune elections and 2018 national ballot, has been rolling out a biometric voter registration system in selected areas.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said the team, which is being assisted by computer experts from Japan and the European Union, was learning where improvements were needed before voter registration began next year.

“We found some problems, such as poor internet speed, but we can fix that before next year when we start voter registration. We will look for companies who can provide higher-speed internet,” said Puthea.

“Another problem we found was that in the areas with garment factories, workers could not register, because our registration stations are closed by the time they finish work, while some areas have no electricity.”

The new digital system, designed to reduce the opportunity for voter fraud, records each voter’s photo and thumbprints, which are logged in a database accessible at polling stations across the country.

Puthea said the NEC aimed to register 32,525 people by the end of the 15-day test run.