Why are concerns being raised about the Election Commission’s voter turnout data?

Even as the Election Commission on Tuesday finally released final voter turnout data for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls after an unprecedented delay, it remains under the scanner as some Opposition leaders questioned the increase in the final figures over the provisional numbers released on the polling days.

Some have also pointed out that the data released by the Election Commission for the phases held on April 19 and April 26 does not include the total number of electors or citizens registered to vote in each constituency – a practice that was followed even in the last Lok Sabha polls in 2019.

Experts were of the unanimous opinion that the delay in releasing the numbers was unusual. However, opinion on the other concerns was divided.

What are the concerns?

Over the past couple of days, the Opposition leaders have flagged three primary concerns about voter turnout data for the first two phases of the elections.

1. Delay in releasing data

The data released on Tuesday came 11 days after the first phase of polling was held on April 19 and four days after the second phase on April 26. On Tuesday morning, before the data was released, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote in a tweet...

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