Delay in Voter Turnout Data Release: Supreme Court Questions Election Commission

Delay in Voter Turnout Data Release: Supreme Court Questions Election Commission

Why is the Election Commission Failing to Upload Voting Figures Promptly?

DILIP DAIMARY

The Supreme Court of India has recently voiced concerns about the Election Commission’s (EC) delay in uploading the voter turnout data onto its official website.

The apex court has sought an explanation from the EC regarding the delay in providing clear, authenticated, and easily readable accounts of the votes recorded at each polling booth after every phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India, who is leading a three-judge bench, questioned the EC counsel about the delay. He pointed out that the polling officer submits the voting records by the evening of the polling day, and the Returning Officer would then have access to the data for the entire constituency. “Why don’t you upload it?” he asked, creating a stir in the courtroom.

The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, mandates the Presiding Officer to create an account of the votes recorded in Form 17C (Part I) format, as per Rule 49S and Rule 56C (2). The question from the Supreme Court came in the wake of an application filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a non-governmental organization.

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The ADR, represented by advocates Prashant Bhushan, Neha Rathi, and Cheryl D’Souza, claimed an unreasonable delay in publishing the voter turnout data for the first two stages of the Lok Sabha elections. The organization also noted a sharp increase in the figures compared to the initial voter turnout percentages released by EC, which raised suspicions about the accuracy of the data.

The ADR’s application has led to concerns about the authenticity of the polling data available to the public and even doubts about potential manipulation of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

However, senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the EC, dismissed the application as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the General Elections. He noted that four phases of the elections had already taken place, with the fifth scheduled on the following Monday.

Singh cited a Supreme Court judgment from April 26 that addressed the security of EVMs and the conduct of elections, including Form 17C. Despite this, the court found the request reasonable and listed the case for May 24, on the eve of the sixth phase of polling in the Lok Sabha polls.

According to the petition, the EC published the voter turnout data for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections on April 30. This was 11 days after the first phase of polling on April 19 and four days after the second phase on April 26.

The petition in question refers to the publication of voter turnout data by the Election Commission (EC) for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections. According to the information provided in the petition, the EC published this data on April 30.

To provide a timeline for context, the first phase of polling for these elections took place on April 19. The EC published the voter turnout data 11 days after this initial phase. Following the first phase, the second phase of polling occurred on April 26. The EC published the voter turnout data for both phases just four days after the completion of the second phase.

By releasing this data, the EC provided information about the number of voters who participated in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections. This is significant as it can offer insight into voter engagement and participation levels throughout the election process. The specifics of the voter turnout data, such as the total number of voters or percentage of voter participation, were not specified in the provided text.

The EC’s press release on April 30 showed a 5-6% increase from the initial percentages announced on the polling day. The petition pointed out that this delay, coupled with the unusually high revision, has raised concerns and public suspicion about the correctness of the data.

The Supreme Court’s questioning of the EC about the delay in uploading voter turnout data has amplified public concerns about the transparency and integrity of the election process. It remains to be seen how the EC will address these concerns and restore faith in the electoral process.

17-05-2024

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