EC not to force EVMs on unwilling parties

The Election Commission (EC) said yesterday that it would not introduce electronic voting machines (EVM) if the political parties did not have faith in them.  The chief election commissioner (CEC), KM Nurul Huda, said: “It’s clear that if the political parties don't have faith in EVMs, or if they don’t accept them, we'll not impose the machines. We'll not take any risk.” The CEC said this at Election Bhaban in the capital while unveiling the commission's seven-point draft roadmap for holding the 11th parliamentary polls, scheduled for the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019. The CEC said introduction of EVMs did not feature on their roadmap. But the matter would be placed before the political parties during talks with them from July 17 to November this year, he added. “We don’t have any plan to introduce EVMs in the next parliamentary polls. We don’t even have it on the roadmap. However, we'll place
the matter before the political parties while holding talks with them. Experts will demonstrate the functioning of the machines before them. If all political parties want the EVM, then we will introduce it. But if the political parties think there is no need for it, we’ll not take the risk. There is no controversy about it,” the CEC said.
 The former commission, headed by Shamsul Huda, wanted to introduce EVMs, but controversies surrounding the machine led to the scrapping of the plan.
 The Awami League (AL) was in favour of EVMs, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was against their introduction, fearing “electronic rigging”.
 The draft seven-point roadmap includes a review of the legal framework to rid polls of any illegal use of money and muscle power and to create a level playing field for all political parties from July 2017 to February 2018.
 It also includes steps to simplify and modernise the election process from July 2017 to February 2018; carry out delimitation of constituencies from Aug 2017 to April 2018; and update the voter list from September 2017 to June 2018.
 The commission also wants to work towards creating a congenial environment for voters and setting up election centres from June 2018 until the announcement of the poll schedule. It further wants to create a fair atmosphere for the registered political parties and to register new political parties up to March 2018.
 The poll panel also wants to start capacity building from July 2018, lasting until the holding of the polls.
 The CEC said they would need some 15-20 days to finalise the draft plan.
 The CEC said: “We want to hold discussions with the political parties from July 17 to November this year on the seven-point roadmap. We’ll also talk to members of the civil society and journalists in this regard. After taking their opinion, we’ll finalise their suggestions by March 2018.”
 He said the panel would discuss the plans with political parties once and would consider holding a second meeting, if some serious issues cropped up.
 Regarding the holding of the 11th parliamentary elections, the CEC said the polls would be held as per the constitutional obligation within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament.  “We can’t provide you the specific date of holding the 11th parliamentary polls. The election will be held within 90 days of the President dissolving Parliament. Accordingly, we’ve time till January 28, 2019 to hold the polls,” he added.  The commission has formed six committees to carry out different functions of the EC. They are: the committee on appointments, promotions and administrative reforms, headed by election commissioner Mahbub Talukder; the committee on law and rules reforms, led by election commissioner Kabita Khanam; the committee on national identity cards, voter roll and election management, headed by Brig. Gen. Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury; and the committee on delimitation and local government election preparations, led by election commissioner Rafiqul Islam.

 

EC not to force EVMs on unwilling parties

The Election Commission (EC) said yesterday that it would not introduce electronic voting machines (EVM) if the political parties did not have faith in them. The chief election commissioner (CEC), KM Nurul Huda, said: Its clear that if the political parties dont have faith in EVMs, or if they dont accept them, well not impose the machines. Well not take any risk. The CEC said this at Election Bhaban in the capital while unveiling the commissions seven-point draft roadmap for holding the 11th parliamentary polls, scheduled for the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019. The CEC said introduction of EVMs did not feature on their roadmap. But the matter would be placed before the political parties during talks with them from July 17 to November this year, he added. We dont have any plan to introduce EVMs in the next parliamentary polls. We dont even have it on the roadmap. However, well place the matter before the political parties while holding talks with them. Experts will demonstrate the functioning of the machines before them. If all political parties want the EVM, then we will introduce it. But if the political parties think there is no need for it, well not take the risk. There is no controversy about it, the CEC said. The former commission, headed by Shamsul Huda, wanted to introduce EVMs, but controversies surrounding the machine led to the scrapping of the plan. The Awami League (AL) was in favour of EVMs, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was against their introduction, fearing electronic rigging. The draft seven-point roadmap includes a review of the legal framework to rid polls of any illegal use of money and muscle power and to create a level playing field for all political parties from July 2017 to February 2018. It also includes steps to simplify and modernise the election process from July 2017 to February 2018; carry out delimitation of constituencies from Aug 2017 to April 2018; and update the voter list from September 2017 to June 2018. The commission also wants to work towards creating a congenial environment for voters and setting up election centres from June 2018 until the announcement of the poll schedule. It further wants to create a fair atmosphere for the registered political parties and to register new political parties up to March 2018. The poll panel also wants to start capacity building from July 2018, lasting until the holding of the polls. The CEC said they would need some 15-20 days to finalise the draft plan. The CEC said: We want to hold discussions with the political parties from July 17 to November this year on the seven-point roadmap. Well also talk to members of the civil society and journalists in this regard. After taking their opinion, well finalise their suggestions by March 2018. He said the panel would discuss the plans with political parties once and would consider holding a second meeting, if some serious issues cropped up. Regarding the holding of the 11th parliamentary elections, the CEC said the polls would be held as per the constitutional obligation within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament. We cant provide you the specific date of holding the 11th parliamentary polls. The election will be held within 90 days of the President dissolving Parliament. Accordingly, weve time till January 28, 2019 to hold the polls, he added. The commission has formed six committees to carry out different functions of the EC. They are: the committee on appointments, promotions and administrative reforms, headed by election commissioner Mahbub Talukder; the committee on law and rules reforms, led by election commissioner Kabita Khanam; the committee on national identity cards, voter roll and election management, headed by Brig. Gen. Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury; and the committee on delimitation and local government election preparations, led by election commissioner Rafiqul Islam.