The government has cleared the path for use of electronic voting machines or EVMs alongside ballot papers in general elections amid opposition from some political groups as the parliamentary polls looms large, reports bdnews24.com.
President Md Abdul Hamid signed an ordinance on Wednesday, bringing changes to the Representation of the People Order or RPO for the use of the EVMs in general elections.
The cabinet on Monday approved the amendment. Now it has taken effect with the signing by the president and it will be passed in the next parliament session.
The president's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told bdndews24.com that the law ministry will issue a gazette notification on the ordinance.
Hamid's move came a day before the election commissioners are scheduled to meet him to formally discuss issues related to the parliamentary elections, including the schedule.
Besides the use of EVMs, the amended RPO includes a provision that allows candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections to repay defaulted loans until a day before the submission of the nominations, according to EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.
The provision for online submission of the nomination forms has also been added to the RPO, he told bdnews24.com.
Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam had earlier said that the amendment would be issued in the form of an ordinance as there was not enough time to push it through parliament ahead of the election.
The amendment also includes a minimum penalty of three years in prison and a maximum of seven years for the misuse of EVMs, Cabinet Secretary Alam had said.
EVMs in polls: President signs ordinance
FE Team | Published: November 01, 2018 00:00:10
EVMs in polls: President signs ordinance
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