The Election Commission will choose the six constituencies where voters will cast their franchises through electronic voting machines (EVMs) on Monday (Nov 26).
A list of 48 constituencies has been finalised for random sampling, it said in a statement on Sunday (Nov 25).
The Commission initially said that the process to choose the constituencies will be held on Wednesday (Nov 28). It, however, has been scheduled ahead.
In its statement, the EC said that the constituencies will be chosen on the basis of random sampling through ‘computer programme’ in front of the media at the conference room of the Agargaon offices at 5pm.
The 48 constituencies, from which six will be exclusive for e-voting are Thakurgaon 1, Dinajpur 3, Lalmonirhat 3, Rangpur 3, Gaibandha 2, Bogura 6, Chapainawabganj 3, Naogaon 5, Rajshahi 2, Pabna 5, Kushtia 3, Khulna 2 and 3, Satkhira 2, Bhola 1, Barishal 5, Tangail 5, Jamalpur 5, Sherpur 1, Mymensingh 4, Narsingdi 1 and 2, Gazipur 2, Narayanganj 2,4 and 5, Faridpur 1, Madaripur 1, Sylhet 1, Cumilla 6, Chattogram 9,10,11 and Dhaka 4,5,6,7, 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 17 and 18.
On Saturday (Nov 24), the Commission has announced that polls for six parliamentary seats will use only EVMs.
According to the EC’s decision, a total of 900 polling centres will use the EVMs exclusively, meaning they will not carry any paper ballots.
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda had said during the announcement of the polls schedule that the voting machines would be used on a limited scale in city constituencies.
During the announcement of the polls schedule, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda had said the voting machines would be used on a limited scale in city areas.
In an event on Friday (Nov 23), he said, “EVMs will be used on an experimental basis and on a limited scale or EVMs will be used in some polling stations of some seats.”
The EC, however, finally decided to use EVMs on a large scale amid strong opposition from other political groups, including the newly formed political alliance, Jatiya Oikya Front.
The ruling Awami League supports the use of the EVMs. Earlier, e-voting had partially been used in local government elections.