EVM fingerprint mismatch: EC plans legal cover to let 1pc voters vote
The Election Commission plans to empower the election officials to allow up to 1 percent of the voters in a polling booth to cast votes through EVMs if their fingerprints don't match with biometrics data stored in the EC server.
It has already drafted a proposal for including in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) a provision to that end.
At present, the commission issues circulars mandating presiding officers and assistant presiding officer to exercise this authority.
The proposed amendment to the RPO, if passed, will give a legal basis to the practice.
There have been allegations that election officials sometimes misuse this authority and allows even up to 25 percent voters in a polling booth to cast votes in cases of fingerprint mismatch.
In the recent local body elections where EVMs were used, many voters complained that biometrics could not read their fingerprints.
According to EC officials, this can happen if one's fingers get damaged either because of ageing, accidents or certain types of work.
"If the fingerprints of a voter, in spite of being correctly identified in the monitor of the EVM's control unit, do not match with biometrics data and on account of that he cannot cast his vote, the Presiding Officer or the Assistant Presiding Officer, as the case may be, shall allow him to cast vote by opening the ballot unit by using his [election official's] fingerprints, but such number of voters to be so allowed shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the total number of voters in the said EVM," said the proposal.
Following a meeting of the election commissioners yesterday, EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker said, "The issue of bringing change to the RPO was on the agenda of today's meeting. But it was dropped, as the commissioners will discuss it further."
Contacted, Election Commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan said, "If the fingerprints of any voter don't match with [biometrics] data, the presiding officer or assistant presiding officer can open the digital ballot unit [of EVM] for that person. The commission wants to ensure there is no misuse of this power. It is discussing how this can be done. No final decision has been made yet."
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the EC had previously said election officials are given the powers to override EVMs for 1 percent of the voters in a polling booth in case the machines failed to verify their biometrics data.
However, there were news reports that election officials overrode EVMs to allow up to 25 percent of the voters to cast votes in the last parliamentary election for such biometrics data-related problems, he pointed out.
"But who will ensure that the elections officials use their powers to override the EVM machines for not more than 1 percent voters?" he questioned.
The EC recently decided to use EVMs in up to 150 parliamentary seats in the next general election though major opposition political parties still have no confidence in the voting machine.
The commission on September 19 finalised a Tk 8,711-crore project for the purchase of two lakh EVMs and their maintenance. The proposal is now pending with the Planning Commission.
The EC currently has 1.5 lakh EVMs that can be used in 70-80 constituencies at one go in the next polls.
FARIDPUR-2 BY-POLLS
The EC secretary said they will carry out massive campaigns to dispel people's "misconceptions" about EVM.
He also announced the schedule for the by-election in Faridpur-2 constituency. The polling date is November 5.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Awami League leader and deputy leader in parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury on September 11.
According to the election schedule, candidates can submit nomination papers till October 10. And the last date for withdrawing candidacy is October 19.
EVMs will be used in the by-election, and CCTV cameras will be installed at all polling booths, said Humayun.