The procedures and protocols for counting votes are grounded in electoral laws, primarily the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and India's Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
Published May 21, 2024 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 21, 2024 | 11:00 AM
EVMs are secured in strongrooms, and they will be taken out on the date of counting. In picture, polling officials storing EVMs in a strongroom in Telangana's Warangal. (ECI Website)
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections — scheduled from 19 April to 1 June, spanning seven phases — elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament.
Simultaneously, Assembly elections are being conducted in four states and by-elections in 25 Legislative Assembly constituencies.
The Lok Sabha is where the prime minister — the leader of a party or a coalition with the most seats — holds significant power.
As current Prime Minister Narendra Modi eyes a third consecutive term, approximately 97 crore out of 140 crore Indians — about 70 percent of the total population — are exercising their voting rights.
The counting of votes, set for 4 June, is an eagerly awaited date when the results will reveal the electoral choice of the nation.
India’s robust multi-party system, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress as significant contenders, reflects a vibrant democratic ethos.
The electoral proceedings are governed by the constitutional mandate that requires Lok Sabha elections every five years, utilising a first-past-the-post voting system from single-member constituencies.
This year, India witnesses significant growth in its democracy, with 968 million eligible voters — an increase of nearly 150 million since the last election in 2019 — ready to participate in shaping the future of the nation.
The counting process for India’s 2024 General Elections is a highly-disciplined affair reflecting the sheer importance of the democratic exercise.
With nearly a billion eligible voters, the logistics and security of the counting process are crucial to the integrity and success of the elections. The procedures and protocols are firmly grounded in India’s robust electoral laws, primarily the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and India’s Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
These laws provide a comprehensive framework that guides every aspect of the electoral process, from voting to the final count, ensuring the fairness and transparency of the process. Even as several people, including leaders of Opposition, have raised questions over the delay by ECI in providing polling data and big jumps between approximate voter turnout data on day of polling and final numbers after collation, the counting of votes has a set procedure with checks and balances at multiple levels.
On the eve of the counting day, stringent security measures are put in place at counting centres nationwide. These centres, typically located in secure buildings like government schools or municipal halls, are chosen to ensure access can be tightly controlled.
Security personnel, including members of the Central Armed Police Forces and local police, are deployed in layers around these centres to prevent unauthorised entry and ensure the safety of the stored Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and paper ballots.
Surveillance cameras monitor all activities to enhance transparency and deter potential tampering or electoral fraud, reassuring the public about the integrity of the process.
The interior of the counting centres is organised to facilitate an efficient and orderly counting process. Counting tables are so arranged that observers and party agents can view the process without interfering. These preparations ensure that the counting process proceeds smoothly and without interruptions.
The counting staff, meticulously chosen and trained, are the backbone of the vote-counting process. This staff includes presiding officers who oversee the counting tables and other officials who assist in tabulating results.
Additionally, micro observers, typically central government employees from various departments, play a pivotal role in overseeing the counting process. Their presence is intended to prevent manipulation of the counting process and ensure adherence to the prescribed procedures.
These observers report directly to the Election Commission, providing an additional layer of oversight.
During the vote-counting process, a wide range of personnel are present to ensure its integrity and transparency:
Returning Officer (RO): This official oversees the entire counting operation, ensuring all procedures are followed. In the event of any issues or discrepancies, the RO is responsible for resolving them, often through a consultative process with the candidates and their agents, to maintain the integrity of the vote count.
Counting Staff: They are carefully selected government employees who undergo rigorous training in counting procedures. Their selection is based on their impartiality and understanding of the electoral process, ensuring the election’s accuracy and fairness.
Micro Observers: These individuals, appointed by the central government, play a crucial role in ensuring the counting process adheres to transparency and established guidelines. They are independent observers who monitor the process, ensuring that all procedures are followed and any irregularities are immediately reported.
Candidates and Their Agents: Candidates are allowed to assign agents at the counting tables to oversee the process and voice any concerns. These concerns can range from questioning the validity of a ballot to disputing the interpretation of a vote, and their presence is crucial in maintaining trust and transparency in the process.
Security Personnel: These officers secure the counting venues to prevent disruptions.
Media Personnel: They play a vital role in reporting the process, contributing to its transparency by informing the public. Their presence ensures that the public is kept informed about the progress of the counting process and any significant developments, thereby enhancing the process’s transparency.
Election Commission Officials: These senior officials monitor the process to ensure all legal protocols are followed.
The counting day begins with tallying postal ballots, including traditional postal votes and electronically transmitted postal ballots (ETPBs).
These ballots are carefully verified for their authenticity and validity before being counted. This initial step is crucial as it ensures that all votes cast by absentee voters are accounted for accurately.
Following the postal ballots, the EVMs are introduced into the counting process. Each EVM is inspected to verify its seals are intact, confirming no tampering has occurred since the voting ended.
The serial numbers on the EVMs are checked against the records to ensure that each machine corresponds to its designated polling station. This meticulous verification process is critical to maintaining the integrity of the vote count.
Postal ballots are opened in the presence of election officers, candidates, and their agents, ensuring transparency. The validation of a postal ballot is a meticulous process where several criteria are checked:
Correctness of the Voter’s Signature: The signature on the ballot must match the one on file.
Adherence to Submission Deadlines: The ballot must be received by the specified deadline.
Proper Marking of the Ballot: The ballot must be marked clearly and correctly.
A postal ballot is considered invalid if it fails any of these criteria. The recording of an invalid vote is handled carefully:
One critical feature of the counting process is verifying the EVM tally with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
VVPAT slips from a randomly selected sample of polling stations are manually counted and compared against the results displayed by the EVMs. This step is a critical check to ensure the electronic tally is accurate and can be validated independently of the EVMs.
Once the votes from the EVMs and VVPAT slips are tallied, the results are recorded on Form 17C Part II at each counting table.
Any discrepancies between the total votes polled and the numbers recorded are carefully examined and rectified. Candidates or agents can request a recount if the victory margin is narrow. The Returning Officer considers this request based on the specific rules governing recounts.
In cases of EVM malfunction or evidence of tampering, the affected machines are set aside, and the votes contained within are only counted once a thorough investigation is conducted.
Similarly, incidents of booth capturing or other electoral malpractices are addressed following legal protocols, which may include re-polling in the affected areas.
Forms are not just paperwork. They play a pivotal role in upholding the integrity of the counting process:
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Each round of counting is rigorously scrutinised to ensure the accuracy of the vote counts.
Discrepancies or objections are resolved immediately by the Returning Officer. The involvement of micro-observers and the option for candidates to request a recount under specific conditions further enhance the process’s scrutiny, ensuring the fairness and integrity of each counting round.
These conditions include instances where the difference in votes between the leading candidate and the requesting candidate is within a certain margin, or where there are significant discrepancies in the vote count.
The final step in the counting process is the consolidation and declaration of results using Form 20, signed by the Returning Officer. This form officially documents the outcome of the election for each constituency.
The results are then announced publicly and reported to the Election Commission, marking the culmination of the electoral process.
The counting process in the 2024 General Elections is a testament to India’s commitment to upholding a free, fair, and transparent electoral system. Through Indigenous planning, stringent security, and adherence to legal standards, India manages and excels in conducting one of the most extensive democratic exercises in the world.
(Compiled by Vani Vyshnavi J. Edited by Majnu Babu).
