EVM Voter Discrepancies: More EVM Counted Than Polled In Over 140 Constituencies (image-X/ECISVEEP)
A recent report by The Wire and The Quint has shed light on the discrepancies found between the EVM votes polled and the EVM votes counted in almost all parliamentary constituencies (PCs), with about 543 PCs showing the number of EVM votes counted vastly differs from the EVM votes polled.
According to The Wire, the difference is prevalent in over 140 PCs, with the number of EVM votes counted and votes polled ranging from two votes to over 3,811 votes. Overall, a surplus of 35,093 EVM votes has been recorded in 176 constituencies. These numbers do not include postal ballots since the voter turnout data only includes votes polled in the EVMs.
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For instance, in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur constituency, 14,30,738 EVM votes were polled on April 19 in the first phase, as per the EC data released on May 25. On the day of counting (June 4), 14,13,947 EVM votes were counted – a deficit of 16,791 votes.
Likewise, in Assam’s Karimganj constituency, 11,36,538 EVM votes were polled on April 26 in the second phase of voting, but 11,40,349 EVM votes were counted – a surplus of 3,811.
Other constituencies, such as Ongole (Andhra Pradesh), Mandla (Madhya Pradesh), recorded a surplus of 1,467 and 1,089 EVM votes, respectively. On the other hand, Kokrajhar (Assam) and Dhenkanal (Odisha) recorded a deficit of 10,760 votes and 9,427 votes, respectively.
The discrepancies in the numbers, along with the delay in releasing the absolute number of EVM votes polled and the data for the first five phases of the election, have raised doubts among the public. Furthermore, the poll body has only released the voter percentages in a constituency for the first five phases of the Lok Sabha elections.
While releasing the data for the number of EVM votes polled in the first five phases, on May 25, the poll body clarified that “any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible.” It also added that the data did not include the number of postal ballots cast.
Responding to the questions raised by social media users, the chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh stated that in some instances, the votes polled at certain polling stations are not counted based on the commission’s “extant protocol” and “provided in various manuals and handbooks.”
Categorising the two instances when votes are not counted in certain polling stations, the CEC explained that first, when the polling officer fails to clear the Mock Poll data from the Control Unit or fails to remove the Mock Poll slips from the VVPAT before the actual polling begins. The second instance is where the total votes polled in the Control Unit fail to match the record of votes in Form 17C prepared by the Presiding Officer who may record incorrect data by mistake.
Read Also: Video: What Is Form 17C And The Controversy Regarding Election Commission Of India
However, how a surplus of votes is generated when the EVM votes counted is greater than the EVM votes polled in over 150 PCs continues to have no explanation or clarification by the poll body.
The difference can arise between votes polled and votes counted because there are certain polling stations whose votes polled are not counted as per the extant protocol issued by the Commission and provided in various Manuals and Handbooks( e.g Para 11.4 of the Handbook for… https://t.co/FrfrGDX57g
— CEO UP #IVote4Sure (@ceoup) June 6, 2024
Co-founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Jagdeep Chhokar, observed that the EC has only provided a “generic explanation for EVM vote surplus or deficit, that too on Twitter.” Going back to the non-profit organisation’s efforts to get Form 17C released, Chhokar added, “This makes an even stronger case for the EC to make Form 17C available in the public domain. We’re not casting doubts on the result of the elections, but there needs to be a transparent and robust mechanism for counting votes,” as quoted by The Quint.
During the Lok Sabha elections, the EC has come under fire several times over delays in publishing the total voter turnout, its alleged inaction against PM Modi, and many BJP leaders engaging in numerous instances of alleged voter fraud, malpractice, and violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
With the latest discrepancies in light, the EC has come under the spotlight for failing to explain or even address how more number of votes have been counted than they were cast, clarification on why the deficit or surplus in EVM votes counted have not been provided based on each Lok Sabha constituency, and acknowledging that there is a data mismatch in the number of votes polled as mentioned in Form 17C and the number of votes recorded in control units in certain constituencies.
