It is good to see the decision taken that would all but see that the 2023 national election of Bangladesh is based on the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
In the past, this newspaper has editorialized on the rationale of using EVMs for elections. Right now, the election commission is trying to figure out how many constituencies throughout the country should be using this technology. However, the convenience alongside the superiority of the machine -- something that makes EVMs preferable against paper ballots -- is pretty much set in stone.
Conventional methods of paper ballots have several issues that make them unfit for a developing nation. There have been reports in past elections of ballot boxes being filled with forged votes in order to get advantages by unscrupulous people. There have also been charges of voter fraud in electoral centres as well. Given that EVMs generate poll results against an internal database of eligible voters in the country, this is an issue that can be avoided.
The usage of EVMs is also compatible with our goal of becoming a digital nation. Using EVMs is easy, safe, secure, and convenient. The process of digitization is always done with the end goal of attaining these attributes. As such, for our nation to truly prosper, we must go digital.
The authorities need to form relevant teams who will oversee the implementation of this system. We must aim for maximum coverage while making sure that the changes we are trying to make will ultimately be worth something.
