EC plans large scale EVM use in Comilla city polls

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda tries out an electronic voting machine at the Election Commission Secretariat on October 6 during a demonstration of the device developed by Buet. Photo:

The Election Commission (EC) is mulling a large scale use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming Comilla City Corporation (CCC) election.
“We are planning to use EVM in a large scale after its successful use in recent Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls,” Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain told reporters at EC Secretariat on Wednesday.
He said the commission would take initiatives to familiarise EVM among the people of Comilla city and it will put EVM in exhibition for creating public awareness.
More than one lakh people cast their votes through the EVMs at 58 polling stations in the NCC polls on October 30. The EVMs underwent live testing at the Chittagong City Corporation elections on June 17 last year. The machines were successfully used at 14 polling stations.
Sakhawat said the local government ministry has yet to complete demarcation of CCC area which has created confusion whether the election could be held within the stipulated 180 days since its declaration as a city corporation.
“We have served letters to the ministry in this regard but yet to get any reply,” he said adding that they can announce schedule of the election only after the ministry published gazette completing demarcation quickly.
CCC was formed comprising Comilla municipality and Comilla Sadar municipality on July 10 this year following a longstanding demand