EC Revamps Postal Ballot Counting Process for Greater Transparency

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced to streamline the process of counting of postal ballots in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

As of now the counting of postal ballots starts at 8 am while that of EVMs at 8:30 am. The EVM counting goes on irrespective of the stage of postal ballot counting. Although, counting of postal ballots generally gets completed before the counting of EVMs, to ensure uniformity and utmost clarity in the counting process, the ECI has now decided that the penultimate (second last) round of EVM counting will be taken up only after the counting of postal ballots is completed at the counting centre where postal ballot counting is being done.

Officials said that in view of the recent initiatives taken by the ECI for home voting for physically disabled persons and senior citizens above 85, the number of postal ballots has increased substantially.

“EVM counting could theoretically go on irrespective of the stage of postal ballot counting and chances of it getting completed before the completion of postal ballot counting cannot be ruled out,” the ECI said. The new practice will be first implemented in Bihar where Assembly polls are due in November. The Commission has also directed that in cases where there are a large number of postal ballots, the Returning Officers are to ensure that sufficient number of tables and counting staff are in place so there is no delay and the counting process is further streamlined.

Meanwhile, the ECI has also made OTP verification of Aadhar mandatory to check authenticity of mobile numbers while seeking changes by a voter in his or her form or voter details.