Politics

Reclaiming voters’ trust: EC banks on technologies

Set to unveil electoral roadmap today
Polls in Mymensingh and Cumilla

The Election Commission plans to tap into modern technologies in the next national election as part of its efforts to win back people's confidence in polls, say EC officials.

Apart from using Electronic Voting Machines in 150 constituencies, the commission will use CCTV cameras in polling centres, Geographic Information System for demarcating constituencies and updating information on voting centres, and also introduce apps to provide voters with election-related information, a number of EC officials told The Daily Star.

They said the EC's main challenge is to restore the voters' confidence in election and the use of modern technologies is its best option for overcoming it.

"The entire world is advancing with the help of technology. Why should we lag behind? EVMs and CCTV cameras have been proved to be very effective tools in holding free and fair elections …," Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana told this newspaper yesterday.

She said they had used EVMs and CCTV cameras in a number of elections that were largely peaceful.

"It is not possible for an individual to cast multiple votes or fake votes through EVM. In the past, we found that the use of muscle power was almost absent in those polling areas where CCTV cameras were installed… We got very good results… That's why we are planning to use technology in a big way in the next national election," she noted.

Rashida, however, said the EC was yet to decide whether CCTV cameras will be installed in all polling centres.

The EC is set to unveil today the electoral roadmap that will cover issues including the use of EVMs, demarcation of constituencies, registration of new parties, use of technology in collecting results, finalisation of the voter list and the specified period for election preparations.

Though the major opposition parties are opposing the use of EVMs in the next polls, the EC has already announced EVMs would be used in 150 of the 300 seats.

Rashida said EVMs could be used in all city corporations, and divisional and district headquarters.

"We, however, have decided not to use EVMs in rural and remote areas," she added.

EC sources said the commission already has system software that stores information on candidates and election results, but this time it wants to use it to the maximum.

They said the commission now plans to obtain system software through which it can directly monitor any polling centre.

According to the roadmap, the EC is likely to publish the draft voter roll on January 2 next year, and the final one on March 2 after scrutiny and settlement of objections.

EC sources said 11.33 crore voters are expected to cast ballots in the next election. The number, however, may go up as those who will turn 18 in January next year will get the chance to become voters.

According to the constitution, the next parliamentary election must be held by January 29, 2024. Since the first session of the current parliament began on January 30, 2019, its tenure will expire on January 29, 2024. And the next polls have to be held 90 days before the dissolution of parliament, they explained.

As per the roadmap, the EC will complete the process of registering political parties by June next year and also the demarcation of constituencies.

Besides, an app will be introduced through which voters will get information on affidavits of the candidates as well as polling centres. Besides, they will be able to file online polls-related complaints.

Over the last few months, the commission held a series of talks with political parties, stakeholders and civil society members to finalise the roadmap. Most of them said the major challenge for the commission is to hold a free and fair election by restoring voters' confidence in polls.

The BNP and several other opposition parties refrained from joining the talks, saying they don't have any confidence in the current EC.

The EC said it would try its best to hold a free and fair election but would not "compel any political party to join the polls".

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Reclaiming voters’ trust: EC banks on technologies

Set to unveil electoral roadmap today
Polls in Mymensingh and Cumilla

The Election Commission plans to tap into modern technologies in the next national election as part of its efforts to win back people's confidence in polls, say EC officials.

Apart from using Electronic Voting Machines in 150 constituencies, the commission will use CCTV cameras in polling centres, Geographic Information System for demarcating constituencies and updating information on voting centres, and also introduce apps to provide voters with election-related information, a number of EC officials told The Daily Star.

They said the EC's main challenge is to restore the voters' confidence in election and the use of modern technologies is its best option for overcoming it.

"The entire world is advancing with the help of technology. Why should we lag behind? EVMs and CCTV cameras have been proved to be very effective tools in holding free and fair elections …," Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana told this newspaper yesterday.

She said they had used EVMs and CCTV cameras in a number of elections that were largely peaceful.

"It is not possible for an individual to cast multiple votes or fake votes through EVM. In the past, we found that the use of muscle power was almost absent in those polling areas where CCTV cameras were installed… We got very good results… That's why we are planning to use technology in a big way in the next national election," she noted.

Rashida, however, said the EC was yet to decide whether CCTV cameras will be installed in all polling centres.

The EC is set to unveil today the electoral roadmap that will cover issues including the use of EVMs, demarcation of constituencies, registration of new parties, use of technology in collecting results, finalisation of the voter list and the specified period for election preparations.

Though the major opposition parties are opposing the use of EVMs in the next polls, the EC has already announced EVMs would be used in 150 of the 300 seats.

Rashida said EVMs could be used in all city corporations, and divisional and district headquarters.

"We, however, have decided not to use EVMs in rural and remote areas," she added.

EC sources said the commission already has system software that stores information on candidates and election results, but this time it wants to use it to the maximum.

They said the commission now plans to obtain system software through which it can directly monitor any polling centre.

According to the roadmap, the EC is likely to publish the draft voter roll on January 2 next year, and the final one on March 2 after scrutiny and settlement of objections.

EC sources said 11.33 crore voters are expected to cast ballots in the next election. The number, however, may go up as those who will turn 18 in January next year will get the chance to become voters.

According to the constitution, the next parliamentary election must be held by January 29, 2024. Since the first session of the current parliament began on January 30, 2019, its tenure will expire on January 29, 2024. And the next polls have to be held 90 days before the dissolution of parliament, they explained.

As per the roadmap, the EC will complete the process of registering political parties by June next year and also the demarcation of constituencies.

Besides, an app will be introduced through which voters will get information on affidavits of the candidates as well as polling centres. Besides, they will be able to file online polls-related complaints.

Over the last few months, the commission held a series of talks with political parties, stakeholders and civil society members to finalise the roadmap. Most of them said the major challenge for the commission is to hold a free and fair election by restoring voters' confidence in polls.

The BNP and several other opposition parties refrained from joining the talks, saying they don't have any confidence in the current EC.

The EC said it would try its best to hold a free and fair election but would not "compel any political party to join the polls".

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