Staff Reporter :
The use of EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) in the next Parliamentary election is still in mind.
The Election Commission (EC) is thinking how to use the EVM in next general election, Election Commissioner M Rafiqul Islam said this after a meeting of the commission at the Nirbachon Bhaban on Sunday.
He said, the 35th meeting of the EC was held at the commission office with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
The commission held the meeting to incorporate a provision of electronic voting into the electoral law for Parliamentary election, he said.
Rafiqul said, the commission adjourned its meeting on the amendment to the Representation of the People Order to make provisions for the use of EVM in the Parliamentary elections till August 30.
He said the EC has started discussion on the issue and it needs more discussion in detail to formulate a draft of the Representation of the People Order 1972.
The final decision will come up after several meetings, the commissioner said.
He said, after making the draft the EC will send it to the Law Ministry for its necessary vetting.
He said, the commission wants to pass the amendment by the Parliament in the upcoming session, which will begin on September 9, after it is approved by the Cabinet meeting.
The EC will hold the election under the existing law if the amendment will not pass by this time as it is planning to declare schedule for next general elections by November first week and hold the election by December last week.
According to the existing constitution, election for the 11th Parliament must be held within 90 days of the expiry of the 10th Parliament. Accordingly, the next general election will be held between October 30, 2018 and January 28, 2019.
