The Election Commission of India has announced that it will further streamline the postal ballot counting process as part of its 30th initiative to minimize delays and improve clarity.
In a statement, the Commission indicated that the second-to-last round of counting for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will begin only after the completion of postal ballot counting at the relevant counting center. Previously, EVM counting could proceed regardless of the status of postal ballot counting, which led to inefficiencies.
Due to recent initiatives that facilitate home voting for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and senior citizens aged 85 and above, the number of postal ballots has markedly increased. While standard procedures generally see postal ballots counted before EVMs, the new directive prioritizes postal ballot counting to eliminate potential confusion and ensure consistency in the counting process.
The Commission also instructed Returning Officers (ROs) to ensure an adequate number of tables and staff are available when there is a large volume of postal ballots, thus further mitigating delays. The counting of postal ballots and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPBs) will take precedence over EVM counting, reinforcing the goal of uniformity during the electoral process.
