While the eyes are all set on the Lok Sabha election results, the declaration of results is likely to be delayed due to verification of voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) in each Assembly segment. The verification process is likely to delay the declaration of Lok Sabha election results in the state by at least three hours.
According to Hindustan Times, Beed has the highest number of candidates (36) in the state, the result is expected to come last, only past midnight. Gadchiroli, which has only five candidates, could be the first constituency to get its results. Depending on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and counting tables, the centres will have rounds ranging between 17 and 35.
An official from the state poll body told the leading daily, “Counting process depends on various factors, including a number of candidates, rounds and electronic voting machines (EVMs) taken for counting at a time. The most deciding of them is the number of candidates.” The official from the state poll body further added that the first trend will be clear by noon and the first official result will be out at 4 pm.
Dilip Shinde, additional chief electoral officer of Maharashtra told the Hindustan Times, “According to the Election Commission guidelines, verification of five VVPATs is mandatory for every Assembly constituency. Verification of slips in each VVPAT with the EVM takes 40 minutes. Although the results for each round will be declared immediately, the announcement will take longer.”
