Haryana CEO Addresses Allegations of Voting Discrepancies in 2024 Elections

The Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana has issued a clarification regarding allegations of discrepancies in vote counts during the 2024 elections. Responding to a media report that claimed mismatches in polling data across several constituencies, the CEO emphasized that accurate figures were shared with candidates' polling agents and reconciled with EVM counts. The clarification aims to address concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, providing detailed statistics from the Kaithal constituency to counter misleading claims. This response highlights the importance of transparency in the electoral system and reassures the public about the accuracy of the voting process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 11, 2026, 16:36 IST

Clarification on Voting Figures

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Chandigarh, Nov 11: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Haryana has responded to a media report that claimed discrepancies between the number of votes cast and counted in 51 Assembly constituencies during the 2024 elections, labeling it as misleading. The CEO clarified that the actual polling data was communicated to the polling agents of candidates and was subsequently reconciled with the votes recorded in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

In a clarification shared on its official social media channels, the CEO addressed a report alleging that internal records from the Election Commission of India (ECI) indicated mismatches in votes across 51 constituencies in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir.

The report specifically mentioned the Badkhal and Kaithal constituencies in Haryana.

The CEO explained that the actual polling figures are provided to candidates' polling agents via Form 17 on election day. These figures are then compared with the counts from the EVMs during the counting process.

"We have not received any complaints regarding discrepancies in the vote counts. The Reporters' Collective could have reached out for clarification," the CEO stated.

To counter the allegations, the CEO referenced the ECI's official index card for the Kaithal Assembly constituency, detailing the total electorate and votes cast.

According to the index card, Kaithal had 2,23,449 registered voters, with 1,67,285 votes cast through EVMs. Additionally, 1,566 valid postal votes were recorded, bringing the total votes, including postal ballots, to 1,68,851.

The CEO pointed out that the report misled readers by claiming that the ECI counted 1,67,070 more votes than were actually cast, while the true total, including postal ballots, was 1,68,851.

The index card also noted that 512 votes were deducted from the EVM count due to test votes, rejected votes, and other factors, while 1,427 valid postal votes were included in the count. The total valid votes cast amounted to 1,68,200.

This clarification from the CEO of Haryana comes in response to concerns regarding the accuracy of election data and the integrity of the figures reported during the 2024 Assembly elections. The authority emphasized that the official polling records and the data available on the ECI website accurately reflect the votes cast in the constituency.