The Election Commission has decided to purchase 2 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. To implement the decision, a project proposal of 8 thousand 711 crore taka has been approved in the meeting of the Election Commission on Monday (September 19). The project will now be sent to the Planning Commission for government approval.
Election Commission Secretariat Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath confirmed the matter after the commission meeting at noon.
He said, the commission has approved the project proposal of 8 thousand 711 crore 44 lakh taka for using EVM in 150 seats. About two lakh EVMs will be purchased under this scheme. Besides, expenditure has been kept here for the preparation and training of EVM security manpower.
At the end of the meeting, the Election Commissioner Md. Alamgir told reporters, “You know today there was a commission meeting on the 12th parliamentary elections. The commission has decided to conduct voting through EVM in maximum 150 seats. As you all know, currently the commission has the capacity of EVM polling in 70 constituencies. As a result, we will need more EVM machines and equipment if we vote through EVMs in 150 seats.”
It is to be noted that, the Election Commission has decided to vote through EVMs in less than 150 seats in the upcoming National Assembly elections, but the current EC has the capacity to vote in 76 to 80 seats with existing EVM machines. An initiative has been taken to purchase additional 2 lakh EVMs for voting in EVMs in more than 150 seats.