Surge in postal ballots raises validity concerns

Andhra Pradesh witnessed a remarkable surge in the number of postal ballots in the recently concluded assembly and Lok Sabha election. This year, the number of postal ballots received has doubled compared to the previous election, prompting questions about their validity under current rules. Election officials have reported receiving 540,000 postal ballots, a significant increase from the 295,003 postal ballots recorded in the 2019 elections. The district of Srikakulam leads with the highest number of postal ballots at 38,865, followed by Nandyala with 25,283 and Kadapa with 24,918.
This surge is attributed to those on election duty and the new inclusion of 13,700 senior citizens above 85 years of age and 12,700 disabled persons, who used the home voting system introduced for the first time. The unprecedented volume of postal ballots has raised concerns about potential delays in the polling process. Officials are preparing for a meticulous counting process, which involves presenting each postal ballot to the candidate agents and validating them based on strict criteria. A postal ballot will be invalidated if the voter declaration form is separate from postal ballot cover A, if the ballot lacks a gazetted officer’s signature, or if it is not signed by the Returning Officer (RO) on the back.
In light of these stringent rules, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has requested the Election Commission (EC) to provide exemptions, citing verbal assurances from Mukesh Kumar Meena, although no formal orders have been issued.
During the 2019 elections, over 56,000 postal ballots, more than 20 per cent, were declared invalid. With the current surge, there is widespread concern about how many votes will face the same fate this time. Counting of electronic voting machine (EVM) votes will commence only after the postal ballot count is completed, underscoring the significance of ensuring the validity of each postal ballot. The electoral officials are taking extensive measures to handle the increased volume and ensure a fair and transparent counting process.