‘No alteration possible’: ECI releases absolute voter turnout numbers for first 5 phases of LS polls

Hyderabad: After facing criticism from several sections of society for the delay in releasing complete voter turnout data, the Election Commission of India (ECI) published the absolute data for the first five phases of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

This comes after a day the Supreme Court refused to consider a plea to direct the election body to release the final data on the voter turnout. The plea was filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which raised issues such as the ECI taking 11 days to publish the data for the first phase of polling while also revising 5 per cent in the voter turnout percentage.

‘Alteration in number of votes polled is not possible’

While releasing the absolute figures to the public, the ECI stated 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.’

Any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible, it declared adding that the ‘process of process of collection and storage of votes polled is rigorous, transparent and participative.’

Explaining the various steps during which voter data is made available to the parties concerned, the ECI stated that the contesting candidates and their authorised agents always have access to the final list of electors before polling and the total number of votes polled in a constituency – as recorded in Form 17C – after polling.

“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,” the ECI stated. It said that ‘the candidate or his/her agents bring the copy of the form 17C to the counting centre and compare it with the result in each round.’

‘Voter turnout data is always available on the app’

The ECI also stated that there was never any delay in releasing voter turnout data.

“Voter turnout data was always available 24/7 on the voter turnout app from 9:30 am on the day of polling of each phase. It publishes estimated voter turnout every two hours till 5:30 pm. After 7 pm, when the polling parties start arriving, data is continuously updated. By midnight, the app will show the best estimated ‘Close of Poll (COP)’ data in percentage form,” the ECI said in its public notice.

‘Any alleged delay in the issue of press notes of phase 1 (polling) does not mean that data was not available in the public domain all the time through voter turnout app,’ it said.

‘Why can’t the ECI put out data prepared by RO?’

The Opposition said that the information released by the ECI is ‘not sufficient to have transparency in the election and counting process.’

Responding to ECI’s comments on ‘a pattern of false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate electoral process,’ Telangana Congress leader G Niranjan asked if ‘asking for transparency in the election process amounts to be mischievous?’

"It seems that the ECI is unable to diagnose the suggestions made by the persons at the ground level," he said.

“Is the commission sure that every agent of the candidate has been given 17C on the polling day? What about the sensitive polling stations where the polling agents of other candidates were not allowed to sit? What about the candidates other than major political parties who are unable to have their polling agents in all the polling stations of the constituency? Have they no right to know about the polling turnout?” the Congress leader asked, in a letter to chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

He also asked why the ECI is ‘reluctant to provide a copy of the voters' turnout sheet prepared by the returning officers (ROs) to all the contested candidates.’

“The voters’ turnout out sheet prepared by the RO consists of polling station-wise total voters and votes polled in each polling station and if the ECI fails to put this sheet on the EC website, then it has no right to put all the details of contesting candidates on its website,” Niranjan said.

Absolute voter turnout data for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh PCs

According to the latest data released by the ECI, in the 17 Parliamentary Constituencies of Telangana, the total number of votes polled is 2,18,14,025 (without postal ballots) while the total electoral count is 3,32,16,348 voters.

Similarly, in the 25 PCs of Andhra Pradesh, the total number of votes polled is 3,33,40,560 (without postal ballots) while the total electoral count is 4,13,33,702 voters.

On May 17, the ECI released the voter turnout in Telangana as 65.67 per cent and in Andhra Pradesh as 80.66 per cent. Polling for both Telugu states took place on May 13 in the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.