An initiative to expand the use of electronic voting machines to 150 parliamentary constituencies in the next general election has been stalled due to lack of funds stemming from the global economic crisis.
Election Commission Secretary Mohammad Jahangir Alam said on Monday that the government’s Planning Commission informed the Election Commission about its decision to stop the plan to buy new EVMs in view of the economic situation.
The project is not being canceled completely, but for the time being, the election watchdog will go ahead with its plan to install EVMs in 70-80 constituencies with the resources currently available.
“It has been decided not to go ahead with the EVM project immediately after detailed evaluation and discussion considering the financial capability of the government in the current global context,” Alam said.
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