The Election Commission of India (ECI) is all set to introduce a new technology-driven VTR sharing process to provide more timely updates on voter turnout (VTR) percentage trends. This new system aims to significantly reduce the time lag associated with earlier manual reporting methods and will align ECI’s commitment to ensure timely public communication.
The statutory requirement of Presiding Officers (PROs) to furnish Form 17C under the statutory framework of Rule 49S of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 remains unchanged. Under Form 17 C the detailed accounts of polls recorded are provided to polling agents nominated by candidates. The new system will streamline the process of updating the VTR App for faster dissemination of information.
Under the earlier manual system, the data was collected by Section officers and relayed to Returning officers via phone calls, SMS, or messaging apps which often led to delays in uploading the data because of the late arrival of physical records, often creating misperceptions.
The new initiative provides for the PROs of each polling station to directly enter the VTR data on the new ECINET App every two hours on polling day which will be automatically aggregated at the constituency level. This new VTR sharing process will ensure that the updated information is immediately available on the VTR App subject to network connectivity and will eventually overcome the issues of the previous manual system. Further the integration of ECINET and VTR apps will happen before the upcoming Bihar election.
Source: PIB
