Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, December 25 –
The ECI has clarified on the misconceptions regarding mismatch of voter turnout data for General and Assembly elections.
In a detailed response, the ECI said while the VTR (Voter Turnout) app is merely a facilitative measure for updating voting trends at regular intervals on polling day, Form 17C is the immutable and only statutory source of total votes polled at any polling station and is made available to candidates before polling booth is closed. The VTR app displays voter turnout data on the basis of votes cast on EVM only, as postal ballots continue to be received till the time of commencement of counting.
Regarding discrepancies in Electoral Roll preparation, the EC asserted that a meticulous, transparent and participative electoral roll-updation process was followed, involving all political parties and public at large.
The Commission reiterated that political parties, being key stakeholders, are involved scrupulously at each and every stage of the election process from Roll to Poll. The ECI said all data, as demanded by the parties, pertaining to electors for each Constituency and Form 20 is available on CEO’s website and can be downloaded.