In short: Votes recorded on EVMs are counted round by round under the Returning Officer, in front of candidates' agents. The candidate with the most valid votes is declared winner.
Counting day, step by step
- Strong rooms holding sealed EVMs are opened in the presence of candidates' agents and observers.
- Postal ballots (including service voters) are counted at the start.
- EVMs are counted table by table in rounds; each round's totals are announced and entered into the result sheet.
- VVPAT slips of a small, randomly chosen number of polling stations in each assembly segment are matched with EVM counts (5 per segment under the Supreme Court's 2019 direction – verify the latest rule).
- The Returning Officer reconciles totals, resolves objections, and declares the winner and the margin.
Key terms
- EVM
- Electronic Voting Machine – control unit plus ballot unit.
- VVPAT
- Paper slip printed for the voter to verify the vote.
- Round
- One batch of EVMs counted together.
- Margin
- Winner's votes minus runner-up's votes.
- Tie
- Resolved by a draw of lots.
Frequently asked questions
What is counted first on counting day?
Postal ballots are counted first, with EVM counting alongside as per ECI procedure.
What is VVPAT?
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail – a printed slip the voter sees for a few seconds, used to verify EVM counts in a sample of polling stations.
Who declares the winner?
The Returning Officer of the constituency declares the result after counting and checks.