Final phase of EVM/VVPAT counting to begin only after postal ballot counting is completed

The Election Commission of India has implemented various initiatives over the past six months to enhance transparency and efficiency in the election process. As the next step, the Commission has decided to simplify and make the postal ballot counting process more transparent.

The counting of postal ballots, whether in paper or electronic form, and the counting of votes via EVMs are two major stages in the Commission’s vote counting process. The counting of postal ballots begins at 8:00 AM on counting day, while EVM vote counting starts at 8:30 AM. According to previous instructions, EVM counting could proceed independently of postal ballot counting, which sometimes led to the EVM counting being completed before postal ballot counting.

Recently, due to the provision of home voting facilities for differently-abled voters and senior citizens above 85 years of age, there has been a significant increase in the number of postal ballots. To maintain uniformity and clarity in the entire process, the Commission has now decided that the final stage of EVM/VVPAT counting will commence only after the postal ballot counting is fully completed.

Additionally, the Commission has instructed the concerned Returning Officers to ensure that sufficient tables and counting personnel are made available in constituencies with a high number of postal ballots, so that the counting process remains swift and transparent.

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