The Election Commission (EC) has urged that no questions be raised regarding the voter turnout increasing from 8 per cent in the first two hours to 20–25 per cent later in the day.
The commission maintained that the results are being published by simply adding up the centre-based figures as they arrive in stages, asserting there is no manipulation or ulterior motive behind the process.
During a briefing on the election result situation on Thursday, a top official of the Election Commission stated that while there may have been suspicious incidents and controversies regarding voter turnout in the past, the current situation is entirely different.
He explained that the change in percentage is a “normal mathematical process” resulting from the continuous addition of incoming results from various centres.
The official expressed gratitude to the Almighty for being able to deliver a “beautiful election” to the nation, noting that the Commission believes its hard work and efforts have been successful.
He remarked that considering the reports from various media outlets since the morning, the polls can be considered a “good election” by any historical standard in the country.
The commission further claimed it had fulfilled its promise to ensure a neutral and reliable election held in a festive atmosphere. Praising the role of the media, the official noted that stakeholders, including the press, are viewing the election positively, which is a matter of satisfaction for the Commission.
Acknowledging that there might be some flaws or limitations, the official highlighted the scale of the task in a country of 180 million people with approximately 127 million voters.
He noted that because a referendum was held simultaneously, a massive number of ballots had to be printed and distributed. He expressed gratitude to journalists, voters, political parties, and the administration, stating that such a grand arrangement would not have been possible without their cooperation.
According to the EC, approximately 1.75 million personnel, including law enforcement agencies and polling officials, were on duty. The official described the coordination of such a large workforce to complete the election as a significant achievement for the Commission.
While noting that the election could not be termed “perfect,” the official remarked that no election in the world – including in the United States – is flawless. He asserted that compared to past experiences, this election was “good and acceptable” by any criteria.
Regarding the announcement of results, the official explained that the simultaneous referendum and the processing of postal ballots have caused some delays in the counting process. He clarified that the results being broadcast by television channels are based on their own sources and are not official.
The Election Commission will only announce results that have been signed and received from Returning Officers. No informal results will be released, and the outcome will only be considered final and official once the gazette is published.
Concluding the briefing, the official reaffirmed the Commission’s firm stance on transparency and invited journalists to remain present throughout the night to observe the Commission’s activities.
