New Delhi: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has lauded India’s voting system for its efficiency while taking a swipe at the prolonged delays in counting election results in the United States, particularly California. Musk highlighted the stark contrast between India’s ability to count 640 million votes in a single day during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and California’s sluggish pace, where ballots remain uncounted weeks after the presidential election on November 5.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk responded to a report titled “How India counted 640 million votes in a day” with the comment, “India counted 640 million votes in 1 day. California is still counting votes.”
India’s Election Efficiency
India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed over 642 million voters casting their ballots, out of 900 million eligible voters. Despite the scale and complexity, results were declared within a day of counting.
Key Factors Behind India’s Speedy Vote Counting:
- Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs):
Used since 2000, EVMs allow rapid and accurate counting, drastically reducing manual errors. - Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT):
Introduced for transparency, VVPAT produces a paper slip for every vote cast, allowing verification if discrepancies arise. - Simultaneous Counting:
Votes are counted simultaneously across 543 parliamentary constituencies, overseen by the Election Commission of India (ECI). - Centralized Oversight:
The ECI ensures uniformity, with Returning Officers supervising the tallying process at central locations. Postal ballots are processed first, followed by EVM counts.
Even in state elections, such as Maharashtra and Jharkhand, India counted nearly 90 million votes within hours, showcasing its electoral efficiency.
Delays in California
In contrast, California’s vote counting, like much of the United States, often stretches for weeks. The November 5 presidential election in California has seen over 300,000 ballots still uncounted nearly 20 days after voting began.
Challenges in the US System:
- Mail-In Ballots:
California predominantly relies on mail-in voting, which involves time-consuming processes like signature verification, envelope sorting, and ballot opening before counting can begin. - Decentralized Oversight:
Unlike India’s central ECI, the US relies on state and local election offices, each operating under different laws and resources, leading to inconsistencies.
Musk’s comments resonate with growing criticism of the inefficiencies in the US electoral system. Analysts have called for reforms to streamline vote counting, especially in populous states like California.
A Global Perspective on Elections
Elon Musk’s remarks have reignited discussions about electoral processes worldwide. While India’s use of technology and centralized oversight has set benchmarks, the US faces calls to adopt more efficient systems to ensure timely results and maintain public trust in elections.
