Chief Election Commissioner, Gynesh Kumar, mentioned that political parties had suggested holding the elections immediately after Chhath Puja. He noted that all political parties have requested elections to be conducted in one or two phases. The ECI also praised SIR, stating that it was initiated on June 24 and completed within the stipulated timeframe. SIR in Bihar is an inspiration for the entire country.

The ECI is taking these steps in light of allegations and scrutiny, particularly concerning the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The commission is responding to issues raised by opposition parties and suggestions for increased transparency. The context is drawn from the understanding that the margins in postal ballot results can be narrow, potentially inviting allegations. Questions have been raised about postal ballot counting, especially when the winning margin is small. The 2024 by-election in the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra serves as an example, where a close victory highlighted these concerns.

The ECI’s decision to complete EVM counting after postal ballots aims to address these issues. This policy will be implemented in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, where the final EVM/VVPAT count will begin only after postal ballot counting is complete. Previously, EVM counting could occur before postal ballot counting, sometimes leading to confusion due to time differences. The ECI believes that issuing new guidelines for postal ballot counting is a significant step towards streamlining the electoral process, reducing delays, and increasing clarity in the vote counting procedure. Postal ballot counting will start at 8 a.m., followed by EVM counting at 8:30 a.m. EVM/VVPAT counting will commence only after postal ballots have been counted. This is particularly important given the increase in postal ballots due to home voting for senior citizens and people with disabilities. To ensure a smooth counting process, the ECI has directed Returning Officers (ROs) to ensure sufficient tables and counting staff, especially in cases with a high number of postal ballots. This is the 30th initiative by the ECI in the last six months aimed at streamlining and improving the election process, following earlier measures like mobile deposit facilities for voters, webcasting of polling stations, and better use of technology.

The assumption of which alliance’s vote was invalid can be made by observing the error in casting the vote. If a member of parliament made a mistake in the box next to CP Radhakrishnan’s name, it is assumed that the MP was from the NDA. If the mistake occurred in the box next to Sudarshan Reddy’s name, it is assumed that the MP was from the INDIA alliance.

Invalid votes can also result from using the wrong pen. In the Vice Presidential election, a special pen is provided by the election officer. This pen must be used for voting. In the event of a vote challenge, this special pen (ink) can be presented as evidence in forensic examination. Other reasons include writing preferences in words instead of numbers (e.g., one or two) or exceeding the boundaries while writing the number inside the box. Also, if the same number is written in front of both candidates.

**Voting and Counting Process in the Vice Presidential Election**

In the Vice Presidential election, members of parliament from the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha cast their votes through secret ballot. There is no identification mark on the ballot paper provided for voting, so it is not possible to determine which MP voted for whom. Each MP receives a ballot paper with a number on it. Before the ballot is put in the ballot box, that number is also colored to hide it, so that the MP’s identity cannot be revealed based on the ballot number.

**Ballot Paper Structure:**

* Boxes are placed in front of the candidates’ names.
* MPs have to write numbers (1 and 2) according to their preference.
* If desired, the MP can only write the first preference.
* Preferences can only be written in numbers, not in words.
* Writing numbers in the international number system, Roman, or any Indian language is acceptable.
* Writing more than one preference is not mandatory.

**Counting Process:**

* First, all ballot papers are sorted.
* Valid and invalid votes are separated.
* The winning quota is determined based on the total number of valid votes.
* Formula: (Valid votes ÷ 2) + 1

**Example: If the total valid votes are 700, then the winning quota will be 351.**

* The candidate who gets more votes than the first preference quota is declared the winner.

To download your voter slip online, start by visiting the official website of the Election Commission of India: https://voters.eci.gov.in. On the homepage, locate and click on the ‘E-EPIC Download’ option, typically found on the right side. After selecting this option, you’ll be prompted to enter the mobile number registered with your voter ID. Complete the captcha and click ‘Login’.

Upon clicking ‘Login’, you’ll receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP to log in to your account. Once logged in, you’ll be asked to enter your voter ID card number. After entering the number and searching, you will need to verify your details through a ‘Send OTP’ process.

After entering the OTP and verifying your details, you will be presented with the option to download your voter slip. Simply tap on the download option. The voter slip will download, which you can then print and take with you to the polling station.

A voter information slip is a crucial document issued by the Election Commission before the election. It contains essential details such as the voter’s name, age, assembly constituency, and polling station information, including room number, location, time, and date.