Writ challenges legality of EVM use

A Supreme Court lawyer today filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of Election Commission’s decision to use electronic voting machine at six constituencies in the next parliamentary election.

Advocate Eunus Ali Akond submitted the petition seeking High Court directives upon the authorities concerned not to use the EVM in the upcoming election to be held on December 30.

Citing the petition, Eunus told The Daily Star that the president has issued an ordinance on October 31 for using EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) although there is no necessity for issuing the ordinance as the parliament is still in operation.

Most of the voters are not aware of EVM so they may not cast their vote properly in the elections, he said.

Eunus Ali said the High Court may hold hearing on the petition tomorrow.

The Election Commission has decided to use EVM in Dhaka-6 and-13, Chattogram-9, Rangpur-3, Khulna-2 and Satkhira-2 constituencies in the upcoming parliamentary election.