Election Commission, EC, is tilting towards Electronic Voting Machines, EVM, which is being used at all kinds of elections. This will also be featured in the city corporation elections to be held on 30 January next. The EC has taken elaborate programmes to raise the acceptability of EVMs.
Decision has been taken to carry out mass publicity to ensure trust on the devices through various forms of social media, including Facebook.
EVM related content will be shown at cinema halls before screening a movie. Leaflets will also be distributed at all public places including religious spots.
EC is also training 46000 officials on the usage of EVM. On the day of the voting, more than 5000 members of the law enforcers will be present at the voting centres on the day of the polls.
The information regarding EVM was given at a meeting on election management.
During the meeting, all officials were asked to take votes properly, using the new device. The EVM training of 45770 voting officials is underway.
On 28 January next, a mock voting will be held to ensure that officials have assimilated the procedure of EVM usage.
Two sergeants or corporal or lance corporal or a soldier will stationed at each centre. In addition, 52 JCOs and 27 officers will be on the field.
To sensitise people about EVMs, 90000 leaflets will be distributed at mosques, schools, colleges and shopping malls. The ministry of information will publicise EVMs are all TV channels.
Mobile operators will be used to dispel fears about EVMs.
Election commissioner brigadier (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, said: “we have taken a comprehensive drive to erase fears about EVM from the masses.”