By Tom Degun in St Kitts and Nevis

Mike Fennell_in_St_Kitts_and_Nevis_November_2011November 10 - The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President, Mike Fennell, has expressed confidence in the electronic voting system that will feature at the organisation's General Assembly for the first time in history.


Hambantota of Sri Lanka and Australia's Gold Coast are both currently hereahead of the electronic vote which will take place tomorrow and see delegates from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories push a button to decide on the bid winners.

Concerns regarding the electronic vote have increased following a high profile failure with the process at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Congress in Daegu in August when the elections had to be farcically be re-run after a series of technical problems.

Fennell, however, feels that there will be no repeat of the system failure here.

"Electronic voting has become a normal procedure for major sporting organisations these days and we are confident in the technology we have in place here ahead of the vote," said the Jamaican, who will step down as CGF President following the Assembly and hand over to Prince Tunku Imran (pictured) of Malaysia.

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"There was clearly a major hiccup with the process with the IAAF in Daegu but that obviously doesn't invalidate the whole process.

"The electronic system is certainly more efficient and timelier and we have done a lot of research on the matter.

"Before the votes take place, there will be a series of workshops for the voting delegates in which they will be taken through all the steps and given an intensive explanation of how to use the electronic system.

"It is not a difficult or high-tech process even for those who are not technically minded so I am sure that we will be fine."

Fennell also feels the voting system offers the right levels of transparency despite the fact that each delegate will cast their vote anonymously.

"I think that we have a very fair system that allows each of the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories to cast a vote," he said.

"There is no reason why they should have to declare their choice as they all have their own reasons for voting.

"We are happy with the fact that our members are able to decide the direction of the Commonwealth Games Movement."

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