The Election Commission of India (ECI) is adopting a more cautious approach, reflecting on past experiences, with recent modifications to election procedures. The ECI has implemented 30 changes in the last six months. These changes aim to improve transparency, clarity, and accuracy in the electoral process. The measures include changes like displaying candidates’ photos and names in EVMs in a clear format and the decision to delay EVM counting until after postal ballots have been tallied. This signals a significant shift towards ensuring a more robust and reliable election process.
The ECI’s actions are partly a response to scrutiny, particularly concerning the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Legal challenges and concerns raised by various parties have prompted the commission to address potential vulnerabilities. The new guidelines aim to minimize confusion. The ECI’s decision to prioritize postal ballots stems from the observation that victory margins in postal ballots can be narrow, potentially leading to disputes and accusations.
Several instances of close results in postal ballot counts have highlighted these concerns. The Nanded Lok Sabha by-election in 2024 serves as an example. The shift also reflects the growing number of postal ballots due to the availability of home voting for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The ECI has issued directives to Returning Officers to ensure adequate resources for postal ballot counting. The ECI’s move to complete EVM counting after postal ballot counting addresses these issues. This approach will be implemented in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. EVM/VVPAT counting will start only after postal ballot counting is finished. This new approach aims to reduce delays, improve clarity, and ensure uniformity in the vote-counting process. Postal ballot counting will begin at 8 a.m., followed by EVM counting at 8:30 a.m. To facilitate this process, more tables and staff will be deployed. The ECI’s latest initiative aligns with previous efforts to enhance the election process, including measures such as mobile deposit facilities for voters and improved use of technology.