Cabinet clears ways for EVM use in next polls

The Cabinet today gave its final approval for use of electronic voting machine (EVM) in the next general elections, amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), BSS reported.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the weekly meeting of the cabinet which approved the proposed amendment to allow the independent Election Commission to use the EVM.

“The Election Commission may now use the EVM in the next general election through the amendment to the RPO,” cabinet secretary Md. Shafiul Alam told a media briefing at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.

He said the draft “Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2018” would come into affect after proclamation of the ordinance by the President.

The amended law, he said, simultaneously would allow candidates to submit nomination papers online for contesting from any constituency as per rule set by the Election Commission.

The cabinet secretary said under the new law, loan defaulters could reschedule their loan at any time before submitting his or her nomination paper while previously they were required to reschedule the loans seven days ahead of filing the nomination papers.