New Delhi: Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi has voiced concerns over discrepancies between provisional and final voter turnout figures in Maharashtra’s recent Assembly elections.
The state, which voted on November 20, initially recorded 55% turnout by 5 pm. This figure rose to 67% the next day—the highest in nearly three decades. In an interview with India Today, Quraishi, who served as CEC from 2010-2012, called the variation “worrying”. He explained voter data is recorded in real-time, with Form 17A marking attendance at booths and Form 17C consolidating the total votes cast by the end of the day. The forms are signed by candidates’ agents and submitted before poll officials conclude their duties.
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“This is real-time data generated on the same day. How it changes significantly the next day is something I fail to understand," Quraishi said. He urged the Election Commission to address the issue promptly, warning that such anomalies could erode public confidence. "If doubts spread across the country, it could undermine the entire system," he cautioned.
Similar Concerns Arose During Lok Sabha Elections 2024
Similar concerns arose during the May 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where discrepancies of 5-6% were noted between initial and final turnout figures. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking the release of polling station-wise data within 48 hours of each phase. However, the Supreme Court rejected the plea, citing logistical challenges, and the Election Commission argued that such disclosures could complicate the process further. The EC has yet to respond to the allegations.
