The Election Commission has withdrawn from its earlier decision of using ‘tick’ marks on ballot paper instead of a seal for local body polls, such as municipal or union parishad.
“The commission has decided to use seals in marking ballot papers in the local body polls,” a deputy secretary of commission told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Last year, the commission decided in principle to use ‘tick’ mark in the ballot papers using marker pen for municipal or union parishad polls and also decided to amend the respective laws in this regard, the official added.
“However, the commission has withdrawn from its previous decision after scrutinising it,” he added.
According to the working papers of the commission’s recent in this regard, Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak told the meeting: “The commission should uphold the decision to use seals in the ballot papers instead of markings.”
The decision to use ‘tick’ marks instead of traditional seals was adopted to cut down the number of cancelled ballot papers, which were caused by wrong markings due to the slow-drying ink used put the seal marks.
“The decision was withdrawn as the use of marker pens may allow anyone to tamper with unmarked ballot papers,” the official added.
At the same time, the official added that the number of cancelled votes will disappear if the commission uses electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of ballot papers.
“The commission is initiating to introduce EVMs in union parishad polls and the commission is amending the laws as it decided in principle,” Deputy Secretary Abdul Odud said.
“The concerned section of the commission will present the working papers in this regard at the full commission meeting soon. Following the approval,, EVMs will be used in every union parishad election or by-polls,” he added.
