Amid the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, various social media posts are sharing claims of voting irregularities at specific polling stations in Rajasthan and Tripura. These posts suggest that certain booths have registered voter turnouts exceeding 100% (here, here, here). Notably, booths in Majlishpur, Khayerpur, and Mohanpur in Tripura along with a booth in the Barmer segment of Rajasthan, are mentioned. This article aims to verify the accuracy of these claims.
Claim: Certain booths have registered voter turnouts exceeding 100% in Tripura and Rajasthan.
Fact: Officials have clarified that the discrepancies in these polling booths are due to the EDC votes polled. Officials clarify that the data shown in these screenshots represent the total number of electors as per the Electoral Roll, excluding EDC votes. EDC votes are not included in the total count but are added to the total votes cast. Consequently, in some polling stations, the percentage of votes cast has surpassed 100%. Hence, the claim made in the post is Misleading.
Following the conclusion of the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, voting for 189 Lok Sabha seats has concluded. After the polls closed, the opposition in Tripura raised concerns about unusually high voter turnouts in certain areas. They claimed that specific booths within the West Tripura parliamentary constituency and the Ramnagar assembly constituency exceeded 100% voter turnout. Specifically, in Tripura, part 44 of the Majlishpur segment recorded a 105.30% turnout, parts 25 and 44 of the Khayerpur segment saw turnouts of 100.15% and 98.80% respectively, and part 38 of the Mohanpur segment reported a 109.09% turnout.
Although the reports of high voter turnout at these booths are accurate, officials have denied any irregularities. Following an investigation, authorities have clarified that the discrepancy is attributed to EDC (Election Duty Certificate) votes cast at these polling stations. According to officials, several reserved polling personnel were assigned duties in nearby areas, leading them to vote at these stations using their election duty certificates on polling day.
The viral screenshots of the polling data originate from the ENCORE application. However, officials clarified that the data shown in these screenshots represent the total number of electors as per the Electoral Roll, excluding EDC votes. In ENCORE, EDC votes are not included in the total electors count but are added to the total votes cast. Consequently, in some polling stations, the percentage of votes cast has surpassed 100%.
Regarding the high turnout at certain polling booths in the Barmer segment of Rajasthan, the Additional District Magistrate confirmed in our correspondence that the turnout discrepancy is attributable to EDC votes cast. Therefore, contrary to the viral claims, the higher voting turnout is a result of EDC votes and not due to any irregularities.
EDC (Election Duty Certificate) votes:
Typically, officers on polling duty have two methods of voting available to them: through the Election Duty Certificate (EDC) or by postal ballot. If an employee’s election duty is located within the same constituency where they are registered to vote, they will be granted the ability to vote using an Election Duty Certificate (EDC). This enables them to cast their votes at the same polling station where they are assigned to work. The Election Commission (EC) issues a specific form for officers on polling duty to fill out to receive their EDC. This form, known as Form 12A, can be accessed here.
Alternatively, if an employee is assigned to election duty in a constituency where they are not registered voters, they are allowed to vote via postal ballot. Employees must fill out a designated form, which is then collected and organized by constituency. These organized forms are then delivered to the Returning Officer (RO) of the relevant constituency.
In the case referred to above, the officials likely cast their votes using EDC, and as previously stated, these votes are included in the total number of votes polled, but not in the total for that specific booth.
To sum it up, officials confirm voting exceeding 100% at certain polling booths in Tripura and Rajasthan due to EDC votes.
