Page 48 - voice-international-oct2022

Bangladesh

Bangladesh to ensure free & fair elections

using EVMs in upcoming elections

lectronic voting (also known as e-voting)
is voting that uses electronic means to
E either aid or take care of casting and
counting ballots. Depending on the particular
implementation, e-voting may use standalone
electronic voting machines (also called EVM) or
computers connected to the Internet.
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is currently
an important topic of discussion in the political
arena of Bangladesh. Some reputed experts of
Bangladesh are opining that it is almost impossible
to manipulate EVMs. Therefore, it is not appropriate
to have any objection to the taking of votes through
this.
The electronic voting machines (EVMs), which
will be used in 150 constituencies in the upcoming
2023 national polls as per the Election Commission’s
(EC) roadmap, are safe and cannot be tampered
with for vote rigging, say some experts allaying fears
of manipulating the device.
On February 1 (2020), a positive change in
the conduct of elections in Bangladesh has been
initiated through the use of EVMs in the two city
corporation elections of Dhaka. The current Election To dispel myths about the use of electronic
Commission (EC) has announced the decision to use voting machines (EVMs) in elections, the Election
the ‘Electronic Voting Commission (EC) will
Machine’ (EVM) in launch a significant
at least one hundred Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is campaign. The
seats in the 11th voting that uses electronic means to either aid campaign will be
National Assembly or take care of casting and counting ballots. promoted by the
elections held in the Depending on the particular implementation, commission through
last week of December e-voting may use standalone electronic voting radio, television,
2018. The ruling Awami machines (also called EVM) or computers mosques, and religious
League leaders and connected to the Internet. institutions.
representatives of civil A Tk 87.11 billion
society expressed their project plan has been
opinion in favor of the matter. On the other hand, finalized by the EC to purchase around 200000
Bangladesh’s opposition parties’ leaders called the EVMs and maintain older ones in advance of the
use of EVMs far-reaching. Various debates on the 2018 12th National Parliamentary Election. In the
matter have accumulated in the media. forthcoming parliamentary election, they have

48 | VoICE International | October 2022