Election Countdown: Votes to be Tallied Across India

The Election Commission announced that vote counting for Lok Sabha elections and state assemblies in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will commence at 8 AM on June 4. For Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, counting starts at 6 AM on June 2 due to the end of the current assembly terms.

The Election Commission has confirmed that the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections and state assemblies in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will begin at 8 AM on June 4. The announcement came this Saturday, ensuring the country's democratic processes move forward smoothly.

However, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh will see their vote counting start earlier, at 6 AM on June 2, due to the ending terms of their assemblies. This shift is to allow for the timely constitution of new assemblies, respecting the local legislative timelines.

The Commission also issued new guidelines concerning the counting procedures, including storage of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and paper trails. According to Rule 54A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, postal ballots will be counted first at the returning officer's table, and results will be displayed digitally.