Next JS polls with ballot papers, not EVM: EC

Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) has decided to conduct the next parliamentary polls using ballot papers instead of using Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) amid fund crisis.
After a meeting held at Nirbhachan Bhaban at capital’s Agargaon area, EC Secretariat Secretary Jahangir Alam said it to the media on Monday.
He said the 300 constituencies’ election will be carried out by using ballot papers and crystal ballot box.
Initially, the commission had planned to use EVMs in a maximum of 150 constituencies.
However, the request made by the EC to the finance ministry for Tk1,240 crore for EVM repair, led to uncertainty regarding the availability of funds.
On September 19 last year, the Election Commission approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure electronic voting machines for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election. The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who did not join talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July.
However, on September 6, a group of 39 notable citizens raised questions about the decision to use EVMs in the forthcoming national election, citing the ongoing economic crisis and the cost of importing the devices.
However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.
On January 23, this year the government decided not to proceed with purchasing 2 lakh electronic voting machines citing the global economic recession.
The use of EVMs in elections has been a topic of debate in Bangladesh, with some political parties expressing concerns about the potential for vote manipulation and technical glitches. The Election Commission has maintained that EVMs are secure and will reduce the time required to count votes, resulting in a more efficient and transparent electoral process.