Election Commission will use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in at least 70 constituencies in the upcoming National Parliament Election depending on the devices available at that time.
Election Commissioner Md Alamgir made the statement while speaking with the media at his office at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday.
He said the Election Commission Secretariat is accepting a new project for the purchase of EVMs to prevent irregularities during polls.
“If the secretariat provides EVMs on time, polling will be held in 150 constituencies. If not, EVMs will be used in 70-80 seats,” the election commissioner added.
The issue of buying EVMs is not being dealt with by the commission, but by the secretariat, he added.
Md Alamgir said that EVMs were used before in local or national elections. Priority will be given to the use of EVMs in the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections.
He said that the commission earlier decided to use EVMs in a maximum of 150 seats.
The next general elections will be held between the last week of December 2023 and the first week of January 2024.
Based on this, preparations are underway to take up the new project of EVMs.
There will be voting in 150 seats, if the secretariat permits. Only when they receive everything, including money, will there be room for 150 seats, he added.
Election Commissioner Md Alamgir informed the reporters on Sunday that the commission also intended to set up security cameras at all the polling centres of 300 constituencies.
“We haven't made up our minds yet, but we'll probably outsource it if we can because it needs to be preserved and repaired. There will be a record of everything,” the EC said.