New Delhi, May 17 — The Election Commission (EC) has informed the Supreme Court that while disclosing data from Form 17C, which records the total number of votes polled, is not inherently difficult, the process does take some time. This clarification was provided during a hearing on election transparency.
The EC’s manual for returning officers (ROs)—the officials responsible for overseeing elections in each constituency—clearly outlines that the total number of votes polled should be immediately available. According to the handbook, at the close of polling, once the presiding officer presses the ‘close button’ on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), the control unit will display the total votes polled. This figure is then to be “immediately noted” in Item 6 of Part I of Form 17C.
The statement from the EC highlights the procedural steps involved in recording and disclosing this critical data, addressing concerns about the transparency and efficiency of the election process.
