Hold Press Meets After Each Phase, Release Total Number of Votes Polled: Journalists Write to CEC

New Delhi: Expressing dismay at the Election Commission discontinuing the practice of holding press conferences after each phase of polling, five journalists’ organisations have written to the Chief Election Commissioner, to resume the press meets to dispel any queries to uphold voter confidence.

The letter comes in the backdrop of the Election Commission (EC) not releasing the “absolute number of votes” in the last three phases of polling.

In the letter to the CEC, the presidents of Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corp, Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Delhi Union of Journalists and Press Association, have pointed out that in the 2019 general election, a press conference by the EC after every phase was  “normal practice”.

“It should be noted that at the press conferences, the journalists get their doubts and confusion, if any, which helps them report and write error-free copies for their readers. They keep the citizens accurately informed updated on the ongoing election. The Election Commissioners can also speak directly to voters via electronic media during a press conference,” the letter pointed out.

The journalists’ groups said they were “shocked and surprised” that the EC had not been releasing the “absolute number of votes polled”, in the past three phases of the seven-phases Lok Sabha elections being held this year.

“These developments have led to apprehension in the minds of people about the fairness of these elections,” said the letter, demanding that press conferences be held after all the remaining phases of polling.

The journalists’ groups also demanded that the EC release the absolute number of votes polled in every phase of voting and the final percentage of voting be released the next of the polling.

“Such transparency is necessary to uphold voter confidence,” the letter said, adding that in this ‘biggest festival of democracy’, all citizens have the right to know what happened on the voting day from the constitutional body entrusted with ensuring a free and fair electoral process.