Hike in VVPAT number pushes poll result date

The final tally for the Lok Sabha results may some late on May 23 or even on May 24. This is due to the increase in the number of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines to be counted and matched with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Post the apex court's dismissal of the review petition, the Election Commission said the matching of five VVPAT machines instead of one will need at least five hours in every seat. "Counting may take even more time in some places depending on availability of facilities and resources," said Deputy election commissioner Sudeep Jain.