The Election Commission has changed the counting rules for Bihar elections 2025. Now the final round of EVM-VVPAT will start only after the completion of the postal ballot count. Its purpose is to increase transparency and accuracy in counting.
Patna: The Election Commission of India has made a big change in the counting rules to make the preparations for Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 more transparent. The Commission has decided that the second final round of EVM and VVPAT count will begin only when the postal ballot count is completed. Earlier, the counting of EVMs could have begun even before the completion of the counting of postal ballots.
Number of postal ballots increased
The Commission said that due to the facility of voting from home for the disabled and the elderly above 85 years, the number of postal ballots is continuously increasing. According to the old rules, the counting of EVMs could have started even before the completion of the counting of postal ballots, but now it will not happen. This step will ensure accuracy and transparency in the counting process.
Additional employees and facilities for counting
In areas where the number of postal ballots will be high, the Returning Officer (RO) has been instructed to arrange a adequate number of counting staff and tables. The Commission has clarified that this will not delay the counting of votes, but will further organize the process.
30th big initiative in six months
The Election Commission has made a total of 30 major changes in the last six months, which aim to make the election process more transparent and simplified. These include the facility of depositing mobile to increase voter facility, congestion at polling station, changing the design of voter information letter (VIS) and writing names in big letters with colorful photographs of candidates in EVMs.
Improvement in voter list and training
The Commission has trained BLO and supervisors to increase accuracy in the voter list. Special training was done for booth level agents (BLA) appointed by all recognized political parties in Bihar. Apart from this, police officers were also trained for election protection and administrative preparations.
Technical initiative and monitoring
ECI has launched ECINET, which is a digital platform containing 40+ apps and websites for voters. Webcasting will be done at all polling stations to ensure continuous monitoring of the voting process. Presiding officers will enter polling data directly on the ECINET app every two hours.
New counting process
Now the final round of EVM-VVPAT will not start until the counting of postal ballot is completed. This will ensure that the final and decisive data of the counting of votes is declared only after completion of the counting of postal ballots.
Attempt to increase transparency and trust in democracy
The Commission has said that this step will increase transparency and trust in the counting process. This change is considered an important initiative to make Bihar election 2025 more fair.