EC streamlines counting process of postal ballots

In a bid to prevent the possibility of any manipulation, the Election Commission has streamlined the process of counting of postal ballots in Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The new practice will be first implemented in Bihar where assembly polls are due in November. Till now, on the day of counting, postal ballot counting starts at 8 am and EVM counting at 8:30 am. According to the earlier instructions, EVM counting could theoretically go on irrespective of the stage of postal ballot counting and chances of it getting completed before the completion of postal ballot counting cannot be ruled out. Although, counting of postal ballots generally gets completed before the counting of EVMs, to ensure uniformity and utmost clarity in the counting process, the Election Commission has now decided that the penultimate (second last) round of EVM counting will be taken up only after the counting of postal ballots is completed at the counting centre where postal ballot counting is being done.The Commission also directed that in cases where there are a large number of postal ballots, the returning officers are to ensure that sufficient number of tables and counting staff are in place so that there is no delay and the counting process is further streamlined.