Featured image: For representational purposes only
Elon Musk recently praised India’s swift and efficient election process, marvelling at our country’s ability to count over 640 million votes in just one day. Here’s a breakdown of how this incredible vote-counting process unfolds in India:
1. Counting of postal ballots
The process begins with the counting of postal ballots, as mandated by the Supreme Court of India. This change was implemented after irregularities during the 2019 elections, where improper procedures in some constituencies led to disputes in closely contested regions. Postal ballots are typically cast by service voters — such as members of the armed forces and government employees posted abroad — and other eligible voters unable to vote in person.
2. Secure transportation to counting centres
After polling day, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units are securely transported to designated counting centres across the country. These machines are stored in sealed strongrooms under tight security until counting day.
3. Unsealing of EVMs
On counting day, the strongrooms housing the EVMs are unsealed in the presence of representatives from all political parties and the Returning Officer (RO), ensuring transparency. The counting begins with the unsealing of the EVMs, adhering to strict protocols to maintain fairness.
4. Counting in rounds
Counting takes place in a single large hall equipped with 14 tables, each assigned to a specific constituency. In every round, votes cast in 14 EVMs are counted — one EVM per table. Once the votes are tallied, the results for that round are immediately displayed and recorded on a blackboard attached to each table.
This system ensures complete transparency and allows representatives to verify the results in real-time. Subsequent rounds only begin after the results of the previous round are confirmed. The RO supervises the entire process, ensuring that it is conducted systematically and in compliance with election protocols.
5. VVPAT verification
To enhance transparency, the Election Commission of India (ECI) mandates that five randomly selected EVMs per constituency undergo VVPAT verification. During this process, the VVPAT system generates a paper slip for each vote cast, which can be cross-checked with the electronic results from the EVM. If discrepancies arise, the paper slips are considered final. This step guarantees the accuracy and integrity of the voting system.
6. Consolidation of results
Once all rounds of counting are complete, the results from all counting tables are consolidated. The RO then declares the final result for each constituency, including the total number of votes received by each candidate. These results are thoroughly checked for any discrepancies or anomalies.
7. Submission of results
After the final tally, the results are sent to the ECI for official records. This step ensures the official compilation and validation of the election data. The ECI oversees the verification of all results and ensures that all records are securely archived for future reference.
8. Sealing of EVMs and VVPATs
Once the results are declared, the EVMs and VVPAT units are resealed and stored securely at the counting centres. These machines are retained for potential future verification or recounting and can be inspected if necessary. This ensures the possibility of a transparent recount process should any concerns arise later.
9. Official declaration of results
The final results, including the total number of votes each candidate has received, are officially declared by the RO. The ECI then compiles these results from all constituencies and announces them to the public, typically by evening, once the counting and validation processes are complete.
Edited by Khushi Arora
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