Starting with Bihar, EC tweaks rules for counting postal ballots

NEW DELHI: EC connected Thursday revised the rules relating to counting of postal ballots, making it mandatory for each postal ballot papers to beryllium counted earlier the penultimate circular of EVM/VVPATs counting is taken up.The caller signifier volition beryllium archetypal implemented successful Bihar wherever assembly polls are owed successful Nov.This restores the statement anterior to May 2019, erstwhile EC had changed the guidelines to let EVM counting to proceed careless of postal ballot counting stage. The 2019 alteration did not regularisation retired chances of EVM counting being completed earlier postal ballot counting. INDIA bloc had, during the 2024 elections, objected to the 2019 regularisation alteration and demanded a instrumentality to the aged system, citing cases wherever the borderline of triumph was little than the postal ballots polled.

Complaining that the effect successful a adjacent predetermination whitethorn beryllium connected the fig of postal ballots rejected oregon held valid, the bloc had asked EC to contented directions successful consonance with Rule 54A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which says "the returning serviceman shall archetypal woody with the postal ballot papers.

..".According to EC's instructions, the regularisation relating to the commencement of counting of postal ballots 30 minutes earlier EVM counting remains unchanged. In its 30th betterment successful six months, EC said guidelines were being revised successful presumption of the important summation successful postal ballots.