Why 40,000 EVMs worth Tk 940cr turn wholly unusable?

Shockingly, 40,000 EVMs in the country barely lasted five years due to inadequate storage and maintenance practices, resulting in a staggering loss of Tk 940 crore of public funds.

In 2011, Bangladesh enthusiastically embraced electronic voting machines (EVMs) as a modern solution to enhance the democratic process.

Positioned as a groundbreaking tool for voters, these machines were massively deployed in six constituencies in 2018.

However, this move has proven to be a costly misstep, with serious consequences for both the electoral system and public finances.

The Election Commission’s acquisition of 1.5 lakh EVMs at Tk 2.35 lakh each raised eyebrows, particularly when compared to India’s machines, which cost a fraction of that amount and have a lifespan of 15 years.

To put this into perspective, the money squandered on malfunctioning EVMs exceeds the entire budget for the 2018 national elections by almost Tk 200 crore.

Furthermore, an additional 40,000 EVMs are at imminent risk of failure, housed in environments unsuitable for the proper upkeep of these sophisticated machines.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that only about 25 out of 120 democratic countries, including Bhutan, India, Brazil, and Venezuela, utilize EVMs. Notably, several nations, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, have prohibited the use of EVMs due to concerns surrounding security, accuracy, dependability, and verifiability of e-voting.

One of the critical issues contributing to the malfunctioning of EVMs is the lack of suitable storage facilities.

Warehouses housing these machines should ideally have sealed doors and windows, protection against dampness and flooding, and adequate air circulation facilitated by exhaust fans.

Unfortunately, many rented warehouses, schools, and colleges storing EVMs in Bangladesh lack these essential protective measures. As a result, over 30% of the EVMs have become non-functional within a relatively short period.

The reckless adoption of EVMs in Bangladesh, coupled with negligent storage practices, poses a serious threat to the integrity of the electoral process.

It is imperative that the Election Commission takes immediate corrective actions, including investing in proper storage facilities and conducting thorough assessments of the EVMs’ functionality.

The future of democratic elections in Bangladesh depends on prudent decision-making and responsible oversight to ensure the taxpayers’ money is used wisely and the electoral process remains transparent and reliable.