Count Postal Ballots First: INDIA Delegation To Election Commission
New Delhi: An INDIA bloc delegation met the Election Commission today ahead of the release of Lok Sabha election results on June 4. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, following the meeting, underscored the critical importance of counting postal ballots first and declaring their results initially, as clearly stated in statutory rules. Singhvi expressed concerns that the Election Commission has disregarded the 2019 guideline, which previously mandated this procedure. He highlighted that if the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are counted and completed before the postal ballots, it undermines the process, which is the primary complaint. Singhvi noted that the delegation received a patient hearing and is awaiting strong action.
Sitaram Yechury outlined the delegation’s demands to the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commission members. These demands included issuing clear guidelines for the counting process on June 4, 2024, clarifying that postal ballots should be counted first as per the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, ensuring the safe movement of Control Units monitored by CCTV, verifying date and time stamps on Control Units to confirm voting periods, specifying the necessary slips, tags, and details for counting agents, displaying poll dates, candidates, and total votes before announcing candidate-wise results, and allowing agents to record results accurately before proceeding. These measures aim to enhance transparency and trust in the electoral process.
In a letter to the Election Commission, the delegation further stressed that the Handbook for Returning Officers and Counting Agents (August 2023) also mandates initiating the counting of postal ballots first. The relevant sections of the handbook and the Conduct of Election Rules 1961 clearly state that the counting of postal ballots should commence before EVM counting, with specific procedures outlined to ensure compliance.
The letter also highlighted the significant increase in postal ballots for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, attributed to the government’s initiative allowing senior citizens (85 years and above) and physically disabled persons to vote via postal ballots. It cited the 2020 Bihar Elections as an example, where postal ballots significantly impacted the election outcome. The delegation urged the Election Commission to issue urgent directions in line with the Conduct of Election Rules 1961 and withdraw the ECI Letter No. 470/2019/SDR (dated 18.05.2019), directing Returning Officers to complete and declare the results of postal ballots before finalizing EVM counts.
