EC Brings New Rule: No EVM Results Before Ballots End

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Sep 25, 2025
• 673

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced new measures to make the vote-counting process more transparent and fair, while also tightening rules for voter list revisions.

Changes in Counting Process:

Ballot counting will begin at 8:00 a.m. and EVM counting at 8:30 a.m. as usual.

However, if ballot counting lags behind, EVM counting will now be paused at the second-last round until ballot counting is completed.

To avoid delays, the number of counting tables for postal ballots will be increased wherever necessary.

For example, if 10,000 EVM votes are being counted in five rounds, and ballot counting is pending, the EVM count will be stopped after the fourth round.

The EC stated this move will bring “equity and transparency” to the counting process, ensuring that ballot votes—including postal ballots—are given due weight and counted in sync with EVMs. The rule will be implemented first in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

E-Verification for Voter List:
In another reform, the ECI has made e-verification mandatory for adding, deleting, or raising objections to entries in the voter list.

A new e-sign feature has been launched on the EC portal and app.

Applicants will now receive a one-time password (OTP) on their registered mobile number for verification.

This system, introduced after September 23, aims to prevent misuse and ensure that only genuine applicants can modify electoral rolls.

Together, these steps mark a significant tightening of procedures to enhance both fairness in vote counting and accuracy in electoral rolls.