- Flagging their concerns over the fluctuation in figures of voter turnouts in the first two phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha election, a group of civil society members and former bureaucrats have urged the Election Commission of India to “immediately disclose” through its website, the authenticated record of voter turnout as contained in Part I of Form 17C — which is the account of votes recorded in each polling station.
- As per Rule 49S of the Conduct of Elections Rules, at the close of polling, the presiding officer has to prepare an account of votes recorded in Part I of Form 17C and also furnish an authenticated copy of this to every polling agent.
- The government recently amended rule 27A, clause (e) of the conduct of Elections Rules-1961, to allow postal ballot facility to those above 85 years old. Earlier it was allowed to ‘above 80 years old’.
- A postal ballot facility is also available to persons with disability and those involved in essential services.
Dig Deeper: Read Conduct of Election Rules. 1961
