Experts see no problem with EVM voting if NID goes to home ministry

Experts believe that there will be no problem in holding elections using electronic voting machines (EVMs) if the national identity (NID) services are taken to the home ministry from the Election Commission.

"We discussed whether there would be any issues with using EVMs if the data was kept somewhere else. From a technical point of view, there should be no problem. Because it's the same thing whether it's here or somewhere else," said educationist Professor Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, emerging from a discussion.

"Wherever it stays, the database must be identical. Then it does not matter whether it is in the commission or elsewhere," he added at the discussion held at the EC Bhaban on Sunday.

The EC met with experts to discuss whether using EVMs in elections would be problematic if the NID service was transferred from the commission to the home ministry.

"Another thing is that we all accepted that there is a very beautiful database. We are going to collect information about those who are below the age of 18. Now we have discussed whether the commission or someone else will collect the data," said Professor Zafar Iqbal.

Professor Mohammad Kaykobad called for helping the state save money by using the experience of the EC.

"EC's experience should be utilised. In any other institution, they do not have this experience. As a result, this experience should be used to make it more cost-effective," he added.

Professor Kaykobad said, "Many times when a work is going smoothly, we take it to another place. Thus we suffer from various problems. We are not very good at coordination. We want the work to be done properly."

Professor Md Haider Ali of Dhaka University said the government has created the NID service with its own money.

"Now the decision will be taken by the commission or the government. They will decide on the matter through discussions," he added.

Professor Md Haider Ali said, "The database will be in one place. In some countries, the database remains with the commission, while in other countries, it remains with the government. We didn't insist on who should have it."

Muhammad Mahfuzul Islam, an expert on maintaining data, said, "Wherever it is, let it be unique. It should not be a problem if it is unique. If the technical features are correct, properly maintained, then there is no problem wherever they remain. There will be no reason for doubt."

Since 2006, the work of making and providing NIDs has been done by the Election Commission. But now the government is going to shift this job to the home ministry.