An NGO has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Election Commission to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data in “absolute figures” on its website within 48 hours of conclusion of polling for each phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed an interim application in its 2019 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the poll panel that “scanned legible copies of Form 17C Part-I (Account of Votes Recorded)” of all polling stations be uploaded immediately after the polls.

“Direct the Election Commission to provide tabulated polling station-wise data in absolute figures of the number of votes polled as recorded in Form 17C Part- I after each phase of polling in the on-going 2024 Lok Sabha elections and also a tabulation of constituency-wise figures of voter turnout in absolute numbers in the on-going 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” the NGO said.It said that the plea was filed to ensure that the democratic process is not subverted by electoral irregularities.

“The voter turn-out data for the first two phases of the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections published by ECI on April 30 has been published after 11 days of the first phase of polling held on April 19 and 4 days after second phase of polling held on April 26.“The data as published by the ECI in its press release dated April 30, 2024 shows a sharp increase (by about 5-6%) as compared to the initial percentages announced by ECI as of 7 pm on the day of polling,” the plea said.

The petition said the “inordinate” delay in the release of final voter turnout data, coupled with the unusually high revision of over 5 per cent in the poll panel’s press note of April 30, 2024 has raised concerns and public suspicion regarding the correctness of the said data.

LS polls: 3rd Phase of polling witnessed 65.68% voter turnout

NEW DELHI, MAY 11 (AGENCIES): The Election Commission of India reported a voter turnout of 65.68% for the third phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, which took place on May 7. This phase of the election covered 93 constituencies spread across 10 states and one Union Territory.According to the ECI press note, 66.89% were male voters while 64.41% female and 25.2% third gender.

Assam where voting was done for 4 parliamentary constituencies recorded the highest voter turnout with 85.45% while Uttar Pradesh which witnessed polling in 10 seats had the lowest turnout with 57.55%, in phase-3.

In Assam, Dhubri constituency had the highest voter turnout with 92.08%.Earlier Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag-Rajouri constituency was also scheduled to have polling but ECI rescheduled it for the sixth phase on May 25, citing road, weather and logistic issues hindering the campaign.

The Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases with the next phase scheduled for May 13 and conclusion on June 1 with vote counting on June 4.