New Delhi, Sept 25 (UNI) In a move aimed at further enhancing transparency and streamlining the electoral process, the Election Commission of India today announced a revised protocol for the counting of postal ballots.
In a statement, the Election Commission said that though the counting of postal ballots generally gets completed before counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), to ensure uniformity and clarity in counting process, it has been decided that the penultimate round of EVM/VVPAT counting will now be taken up only after the complete counting of postal ballot papers at respective counting centres.
The vote counting process involves two major components — counting of postal ballots/Eelectronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPBs) and counting through EVM.
This initiative was taken due to a substantial rise in the number of postal ballots following the poll body’s initiatives, including voting for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and senior citizens aged above 85.
The Commission has also directed that in cases where there are a large number of postal ballots, the ROs are to ensure that sufficient number of tables and counting staff are in place so there is no delay and the counting process is further streamlined.
The Election Commission had taken 29 initiatives in the past six months including strengthening and clean-up of election system, proactive engagement with political parties, enhanced use of technology and purity of electoral rolls.
