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1h ago

ECI Mandates Postal Ballots Be Completed Before Penultimate EVM Round

The Election Commission says the sequencing change will standardize operations to reduce confusion in close counts.

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Overview

  • The Commission ordered that the second-last round of EVM/VVPAT counting at any centre begin only after all postal ballots at that centre are fully tallied.
  • Returning Officers were instructed to deploy sufficient counting tables and staff where postal ballots are high to prevent bottlenecks.
  • The counting-day schedule remains in place, with postal ballot counting starting at 8:00 am and EVM counting at 8:30 am.
  • Earlier procedures allowed EVM rounds to proceed regardless of postal ballot progress, which could result in machine counts concluding first.
  • The change reflects an increase in postal ballots linked to expanded home voting for PwDs and voters aged 85-plus, and it is presented as part of the ECI’s ongoing reforms reported as the 30th initiative in six months.