In response to increasing scrutiny over the delay and accuracy of voter turnout data, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, unveiled a significant technological overhaul aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing reporting delays. This new system, powered by the ECINET app, is scheduled for deployment ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections later this year.
Features of the ECINET System
Under the revamped system, Presiding Officers (PROs) at each polling station will be required to input turnout figures into the ECINET app every two hours on polling day. These figures will be automatically aggregated at the constituency level, ensuring near real-time updates on voter turnout trends.
“This new process significantly reduces the time lag associated with the earlier manual reporting methods,” the Commission stated.
Previously, voter turnout data was collected manually by Sector Officers and conveyed through phone calls, SMS, or messaging apps to Returning Officers (ROs). This outdated method often caused delays of 4–5 hours or more, with some updates arriving as late as the following day.
Legal Framework Remains Intact
While the reporting method is being modernized, the statutory requirement under Rule 49S of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, remains unchanged. As mandated, PROs must continue furnishing Form 17C, which provides a detailed account of votes recorded. These are handed over to the polling agents present at the station, who are appointed by candidates.
The new system merely supplements the legal process by facilitating faster, non-statutory publication of approximate voting trends through digital means.
Faster Final Updates After Polls
A major advancement under the ECINET system is the mandatory data entry by PROs immediately after the close of polls, before leaving the polling station. This ensures that by the end of polling day, most constituency-wise voter turnout percentages will be available on the updated Voter Turnout App, subject to network availability.
In areas with limited mobile connectivity, entries can be made offline and synced later, preventing data loss and ensuring broader coverage.
Background: Delays and Criticism
This move comes after significant criticism during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the Election Commission published final turnout data 11 days after the first phase and 4 days after the second phase. Opposition parties and civil society organizations raised concerns over the long delay and inconsistencies between preliminary and final data.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) even approached the Supreme Court, pointing to the lack of clarity over the number of votes polled per constituency and Assembly segment. Parties also alleged discrepancies between the tentative data and the final voting percentages, which had increased notably without adequate explanation.
In its defense, the Commission had stated that detailed, verifiable data—as recorded in Form 17C—was available with all candidates, polling station-wise.
The Election Commission has confirmed that ECINET will be fully integrated into its electoral operations before the Bihar Assembly elections. This marks a significant move toward digitizing electoral oversight, providing timely and accurate data to the public, and restoring trust in the integrity of the voting process.
