No political crisis if EVMs used in upcoming elections: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal today (September 7, 2022) said that he does not see any political crisis if electronic voting machines are used in the next general elections.
The CEC while talking to reporters at his office also said that voting with only ballot papers can take place if there is 100 percent political consensus.
Awal made the comments in reaction to a joint statement of 39 eminent citizens issued yesterday urging the Election Commission not to use EVMs in the next general elections.
In the statement, they said the use of EVMs may provoke political debates and further reduce people's confidence in the commission. As a result, the country will once again see a "failed election", which would push it into a state of crisis, the statement said.
Eminent citizens issued the statement as EC on August 23, 2022 decided to use EVMs in up to 150 parliamentary seats in the next general elections though major opposition political parties including BNP, main opposition in the parliament Jatiya Party, were against using EVMs.
Ruling Awami League and several others parties were in favour of using EVMs in election.
"I don't see any political crisis regarding the use of EVMs in the elections. The crisis that we are seeing in the political arena is not only about EVMs, but a bigger crisis. We hope this crisis will end" the CEC said.
If there is a political consensus, all the votes will be held using ballot papers. If all parties are joining the polls, that would be a good initiative, he added.
Awal said "It is not important whether the elections are held using EVMs or ballot papers," he said.
Comments