Election Commission (EC) officials have underscored the need for using electronic voting machines if the elections of both federal assembly and parliament are to be conducted together.

The EC officials said so during a meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu on Monday.

At the meeting, PM Deuba advised the EC officials to make preparations for holding both the elections together in order to curb the costs of elections and to conduct the elections within the deadline as provisioned in the constitution.

PM Deuba urged EC officials to get ready for the elections saying that two election-related acts are in the process of endorsement from Parliament, and Constitution Delimitation Commission is also likely to submit its report within the deadline.

Meanwhile, EC officials told the PM that it would be easy to manage the elections if federal and provincial elections were held separately. They also said that if both the elections were to be held together, electronic voting machines should be used for the purpose.

In response, PM Deuba told the EC officials that the government is running short of time for procuring electronic voting machines and to impart necessary training on its usage.

According to a statement issued by the EC, PM was positive about using electronic voting machines.

It is learnt that EC officials asked the PM whether to grant the right to reject to the voters. The meeting also held discussions on granting voting rights to Nepalis living abroad.

Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav, EC commissioners Ila Sharma, Narendra Dahal, Ishwori Prasad Poudyal, Sudhir Kumar Sah and EC secretary Maheshwor Neupane were present in the meeting.