‘How is it a secret’: ECI faces questions on poll data stand

The Election Commission’s reluctance on immediate disclosure of authenticated polling figures on its website, for which it said there was “no legal mandate”, was criticised by lawyers, activists and smaller parties, who said the law does not prohibit the poll body from doing so either. Dr Lubna Sarwath, who contested the May 13 Lok Sabha polls from Hyderabad constituency, wrote to Telangana chief electoral officer and other state officials, requesting for a copy of Form 17C Part I —the account of votes recorded at the polling booth filled by the presiding officer of every polling station after the voting ends for the day. As such I urge you to give me scanned or physical copies of Form 17C Part I, ‘Accounts of Votes Recorded’, all of polling booths…” she wrote in the email dated May 21, seeking polling figures from all 1,944 booths in the constituency. I need to pay them an honorarium for staying at the booths for so long.” Two hours after her email to the CEO, she also wrote to chief justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, seeking a copy of Form 17C Part I, and annexures to Form 17A where the returning officer of the constituency notes whether a repolling is required in any booth while scrutinising the papers a day after polling ends in the constituency. The EC also said that the “wholesome disclosure of Form 17C is amenable to mischief and vitiation of entire electoral space” and that “indiscriminate disclosure, public posting on the website increases the possibility of the images being morphed, including the counting results which then can create widespread public discomfort and mistrust in the entire electoral processes”.