Explained: Row over ECI's delay in releasing final voter numbers
Over 10 days after Phase 1 and four days after Phase 2 polling for the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India released the final voter turnout percentages for the initial rounds on Tuesday. This came amid questions by the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Trinamool Congress over the delay in release of the data. They had raised concerns over "manipulation of results" due to lack of transparency. Here's what we know about the row.
Polling percentage takes a dip as compared to 2019
The voter turnout for Phase 1 was recorded at 66.14%; it was slightly higher for Phase 2—at 66.7%. The polling for first phase took place on April 19 across 102 constituencies and for second phase on April 26 in 88 seats. In Phase 1, the turnout of male voters was 66.22% while that of female electors was 66.07%. The corresponding figures for Phase 2 were 66.99% and 66.42%.
2019 data
In 2019, the first phase final turnout was shared two days after the voting. The first phase's voter turnout in 2019 was 69.43% and 69.44% for the second phase. The poll percentage has a drop of just under 4 percentage points for the first phase and under 3 percentage points for the second phase compared to the 2019 elections.
Opposition flags lack of information on voter numbers per constituency
Notably, the poll body is yet to release the total number of voters in each constituency. The website only shows the number of voters in a state and the number of voters in each booth. This was also pointed out by several opposition parties on social media. In a post on X on Tuesday, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury questioned the lack of absolute numbers of voters in each constituency. He said, "Percentages are meaningless unless this figure is known."
Opposition parties raise concerns over voter data
"Apprehensions of manipulation of results continue as total voter numbers can be altered at the time of counting. Total number of voters in each constituency was always available on ECI website till 2014!" Yechury added. Separately, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien raised questions about the updated figures. He said, "Four days after Phase 2 ends, Election Commission releases final voting figures. A bump up of 5.75% from what EC released 4 days ago! Is this normal?"
Jairam Ramesh's statement on delay by ECI
Earlier on Tuesday, before the ECI had released the final numbers, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had flagged the delay by the poll body in updating the voter turnout. In a X post, he wrote, "For the first time...11 days after the first phase of the polls...four days after the second phase, the final voter turnout has not been published." He added that information about registered voters in each Lok Sabha constituency is not available on the commission's website.
