Election Commission Responds To Congress Allegations On Voter Turnout And Electoral Roll Integrity

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has responded to Congress’s concerns regarding voter turnout data in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. In its detailed response, the ECI clarified how voter turnout is aggregated. The Commission explained that an increase in turnout from 5 pm to 11:45 pm is part of the process and not unusual. It also noted that discrepancies between votes polled and votes counted are typically inconsequential.

The ECI emphasized that the actual voter turnout cannot be altered. Statutory Form 17C, which records voter turnout, is available to candidates’ agents when polling stations close. This form is the official source of data. The VTR App, which tracks voting trends, simply serves to update trends throughout the day, not to provide final turnout figures.

ECI Refutes Allegations on Electoral Roll Changes

The ECI also addressed Congress’s allegations about arbitrary additions and deletions in Maharashtra’s electoral rolls. The Commission denied these claims and explained that only six constituencies had over 50,000 additions, not the 50 claimed by Congress. It also clarified that no arbitrary deletions took place.

The Commission reaffirmed that the addition and deletion of voters followed the rules. Political parties were involved in every step of the process. The average deletion of 2,779 electors per constituency was due to reasons such as death, shifting, or duplicate entries. The process remained transparent, with political party representatives engaged throughout.

The ECI assured Congress that all relevant data, including details of electors in each constituency, is available on the CEO Maharashtra website. The Commission emphasized its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

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