VVPATs delays declaration of results by three hours in Maharashtra

Depending on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and counting tables, the centres will have rounds ranging between 17 and 35

Verification of votes in at least five voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) in each Assembly segment coupled with the high number of candidates is likely to delay the declaration of Lok Sabha election results by at least three hours on Thursday in the state. As Beed has the highest number of candidates which is 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.

According to the Hindustan Times, the votes for the state’s 48 constituencies will be counted 38 locations at 48 centres. In Mumbai, the counting for six constituencies will be held at three locations. Depending on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and counting tables, the centres will have rounds ranging between 17 and 35. Hatkanangale will have 17 rounds, while the highest number of rounds (35) will be held in Bhiwandi and Palghar constituencies.

“Counting process depends on various factors, including number of candidates, rounds and electronic voting machines (EVMs) taken for counting at a time. The most deciding of them is the number of the candidates,” said an official from the state poll body, adding the first trend will be clear by noon and the first official result will be out at 4 pm.

Dilip Shinde, an additional chief electoral officer of Maharashtra said, “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.”

The Election Commission (EC) used 98,430 EVMs in the state, with highest used were 584 in Panvel Assembly constituency and lowest used were 224 in Wadala. The EC has also directed its machinery to count VVPAT slips for stations where EVMs failed owing to technical reasons.

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