Results for: Indian Elections

After a month-long electoral process, India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections have reached their final stage with the crucial vote counting underway across the country. The mammoth exercise, involving 64 crore voters and 543 constituencies, began at 8 AM today and is being overseen by thousands of officials. Each round of counting encompasses 14 EVMs, with results verified against VVPATs from five random EVMs. Postal ballots, facilitating absentee voting, are also being considered. The Election Commission has ensured a decentralized and efficient counting process to ensure timely and accurate results.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has taken action against deceptive uses of AI in covert operations focused on the Indian elections. The company disrupted a network of accounts originated from Israel that used AI-generated content to criticize the ruling BJP party and praise the opposition Congress party. The disrupted activity had no significant impact on audience engagement or reach. OpenAI is committed to developing safe AI and preventing abuse of its services.

Third-party advertisers are emerging as a formidable force in global democracies, shaping narratives and influencing public opinion. A recent study by Lokniti-CSDS sheds light on the extent and impact of online political advertising by third parties in India, revealing a significant presence of 27 advertisers on Meta and 24 on Google among the top 50 spenders. A striking finding of the study is the abundance of Islamophobic content, misinformation, and derogatory remarks in third-party political ads on Meta. Despite provisions in the law aimed at ensuring fairness and accountability in political advertising, the current regulatory framework falls short, allowing third parties to operate with impunity, free from scrutiny over the content they disseminate and the source of their financial backing.

On June 4th, India will count votes for the 2024 General Elections. This process, overseen by the Election Commission of India, involves several key steps and procedures to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Counting agents, appointed by the candidates, monitor the process to ensure the integrity of the counting. The counting hall is laid out with barricades and wire mesh to prevent physical access to the EVMs, but agents can scrutinize the process.

Counting begins with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes. The Control Units of the EVMs are brought to the counting hall and the votes are tallied. The results from 14 EVMs are declared at the end of each round. Once EVM counting is complete, VVPAT slips are tallied to verify the results.

In case of discrepancies, the printed paper slips from the VVPATs take precedence over the EVM count. A candidate or counting agent may request a recount, but the decision lies with the Returning Officer.

To ensure transparency, the counting process is conducted under high security with video surveillance and deployment of security forces. Political parties and activists are advised to monitor the process closely and report any irregularities.

Elections in India are witnessing a rise in the influence of women voters, with significant disparities in voting patterns between rural and urban women. This research delves into the factors shaping electoral decisions among young women in rural Uttar Pradesh and urban New Delhi, highlighting the influence of geographical factors on voting intentions, considerations, and levels of political engagement. The findings reveal the importance of education in enhancing women’s political participation, underlining the need for tailored approaches to address the unique challenges and aspirations of women across urban and rural India.

Voter turnout has been a notable trend in the ongoing general election 2024 in India. Analyzing data from past elections reveals that there is no statistically significant bias for or against the incumbent based on changes in turnout. However, examining voter turnout data multidimensionally is crucial. Conventional political wisdom suggests that higher voter turnout benefits Democrats in American elections, but research has shown this relationship is not always clear-cut. In India, the impact of voter turnout on election outcomes is likely more nuanced due to the country’s diverse political landscape and the presence of multiple parties. Non-habitual voters’ voting patterns and their impact on election results remain uncertain until the electronic voting machines are counted.

As India gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool for political parties. AI-generated videos, voice cloning, and deepfakes are flooding social media, resurrecting deceased politicians and creating virtual avatars of living leaders. These tools are being used to engage young voters, create personalized messaging, and boost party morale. While experts debate the impact of AI on voters, concerns remain about the ethical use of deepfakes and the spread of misinformation.

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has criticized Western media outlets for their biased coverage of Indian elections. He accused them of being unfair and giving condescending advice, despite their own flawed electoral processes.

Jaishankar highlighted the irony of countries that have to resolve election disputes in court criticizing India’s election conduct. He suggested that the Western countries’ negative portrayal stems from their desire to see India conform to their expectations, rather than respecting the choices of the Indian electorate.

Jaishankar also commended the high voter turnout in India, despite challenging weather conditions. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are being held in seven phases, with the final results expected on June 4.

Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), is a pivotal figure in Indian politics. In an interview with Livemint, Owaisi discussed his party’s prospects in the upcoming general elections, the pressing issues facing India, and the anti-Muslim rhetoric by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite fielding candidates in states with significant Muslim populations, Owaisi emphasized the importance of defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He criticized the so-called secular parties for their reluctance to field Muslim candidates and argued that their actions undermine the pluralism and diversity of India. Owaisi also addressed the BJP’s attacks on Muslims, stating that such rhetoric is a reflection of the party’s true DNA. He expressed confidence that India will one day have a Muslim Prime Minister, but acknowledged that it may not happen in his lifetime.

Former ISRO Scientist Nambi Narayanan and ISRO Chief S Somanath cast their votes and urged India’s younger generation to do the same. Narayanan emphasized the importance of participation in the electoral process, particularly for first-time voters. He stressed the significance of understanding the role of central and state governments and making informed decisions. Somanath echoed these sentiments, highlighting that every vote counts and urged citizens to fulfill their duty by casting their ballots.