New Delhi: Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on the process of release of turnout data, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today released the absolute number of voters for all completed phases.
At the same time, the ECI claimed that the whole exercise of the release of turnout data from the date of commencement of polls on April 19, 2024, “has been accurate, consistent and in accordance with election laws and without any discrepancy whatsoever”. It claimed that any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible and that the process of collection and storage of votes polled is rigorous, transparent and participative.
“The Commission feels duly strengthened by the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s observations and verdict…(and) this brings upon the Commission, a higher responsibility to serve the cause of electoral democracy with undeterred resolution,” the ECI stated.
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It said the Commission has now expanded the format of the release of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency, “which of course is discernable Parliamentary Constituency wise by all citizens themselves by applying the turnout percentage to total electors, both already made available in public domain”.
It added: “The Commission and its officials across the states have been disseminating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, taking into account statutory considerations”.
For better understanding, the ECI enumerated the process in brief below:
- The final list of electors is given to candidates after the list of contesting candidates is finalized.
- Authorized agents of all candidates will have form 17C across 543 PCs, distinctively for each of approximately 10.5 lakh polling stations.
- The total number of votes polled in a constituency, as recorded in Form 17C, can never be changed even by anyone’s hypothetical mischief, as it is available with all contesting candidates.
- Agents of candidates are always allowed to accompany EVM and statutory papers, including form 17 C from the polling station to storage in a strong room as per Rule 49 V (2) of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961.
- The candidate or his agents bring a copy of form 17C to the counting centre and compare it with the result in each round.
The absolute number of voters for the first five phases is as follows:
– global bihari bureau
