The Election Commission has released the data of the absolute number of voters for all completed phases even though the Supreme Court had refused to pass any interim direction to the Commission to do the same, in an application filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms.

The Commission underlined that there has been no delay in the release of voter turnout data and it was always available 24/7 on the facilitative Voter Turnout App from 9:30 am on poll day of each phase.

On May 24, 2024, the Supreme Court had refused to pass any interim orders. The ECI had told the Court that such applications reduce citizens' participation and are responsible for the decline in electoral polls in the country.

The Commission has today said in its release, "The Commission feels duly strengthened by the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s observations and verdict on the process of release of turnout data by the Election Commission of India. This brings upon the Commission, a higher responsibility to serve the cause of electoral democracy with undeterred resolution...The Commission has therefore decided to further expand the format of release of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency, which of course is discernable Parliamentary Constituency wise by all citizens themselves by applying the turnout percentage to total electors, both already made available in public domain."

The applications were filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Mahua Moitra alleging inordinate and unreasonable delay in the release of final voter turnout data by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The Commission's press release says, "The process of collection and storage of votes polled is rigorous, transparent and participative. The Commission and its officials across the states have been disseminating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, taking into account statutory considerations. The whole exercise of release of turnout data from the date of commencement of polls on 19th April 2024 has been accurate, consistent and in accordance with election laws and without any discrepancy whatsoever. The Commission has informed in public domain and also to individual political parties the detailed process of recording and release of turnout data and the manner of custody and usages of form 17C."

The ECI had filed its reply to the application alleging inordinate and unreasonable delay in the release of final voter turnout data and has stated that persons with motivated interests may use any disclosure of Form 17C to cast aspersions on the electoral process and may cause confusion in the minds of voters. The ECI had said there is no legal mandate to provide Form 17C to anyone other than the candidate or his agent.

The ECI had further alleged in its affidavit before the Apex Court that there are certain elements and vested interests that keep on throwing baseless and false allegations, creating an unwarranted atmosphere of suspicion in the proximity of the time of conduct of every election by the ECI, to discredit the same. Furthermore, it had submitted that there is a consistent malafide campaign/design/effort to keep on raising suspicion and doubt in every possible manner by misleading assertions and baseless allegations regarding the conduct of elections by the ECI.

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Election Commission of India

Aastha Kaushik