Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 25: In a move to enhance transparency and efficiency in the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced a new directive aimed at streamlining the counting of postal ballots. This marks the 30th major reform undertaken by the Commission in the past six months.

The directive, detailed in an official press note, formalises the order of vote counting by mandating that postal ballots be fully counted before the penultimate round of counting Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs begins. This change addresses delays and inconsistencies observed in previous elections, especially given the sharp rise in postal ballot usage.

The increase in postal ballots is largely due to initiatives like home voting for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and voters aged over 85, which have significantly expanded access to the electoral process.

According to the new instruction:

“The penultimate (second last) round of EVM/VVPATs counting shall be taken up only after the counting of Postal Ballot Papers is completed, at the counting centre, where postal ballot counting is being done.”

In addition, the Election Commission has directed Returning Officers (ROs) to ensure that in cases where there is a large volume of postal ballots, adequate arrangements — such as sufficient counting tables and trained staff — are in place to prevent delays and improve efficiency.

This directive is part of the ECI’s broader mission to modernise and streamline India’s electoral machinery. Over the last six months, the Commission has launched 29 other reform measures, including:

• Introduction of mobile deposit facilities for voters
• Removal of 808 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) from official lists
• Capping the number of electors at 1,200 per polling station to reduce overcrowding
• Issuing standardised Photo ID cards for Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
• Conducting 4,719 all-party meetings at multiple administrative levels (ERO, DEO, CEO)
• Launch of ECINET, a digital governance platform for internal operations

With the latest measure focused on postal ballots, the ECI reinforces its commitment to delivering transparent, timely, and voter-friendly elections across the country.