Form 17 A & 17C of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 (1961 Rules)

As per the 1961 Rules, the ECI has to maintain two forms that have data on the number of electors and the votes polled : Forms 17A and 17C.

Forms 17A is used to record the details of every voter who comes into a polling booth and casts his or her vote.

Form 17C is an account of all the votes recorded.

Under Rule 49S(2), a presiding officer is mandated to furnish a copy of the entries made in Form 17C to the polling agents of the candidates at the close of polling.

Part I of Form 17C contains crucial information : the identification numbers of the EVMs used in the polling station, the total number of electors assigned to the polling station, the total number of voters as entered in the register for voters,etc.

Part II of the same form contains the results of the counting carried out on the stipulated day.

The data in Form 17C is used by candidates to verify the results on counting day by matching it with the EVM count. 

Subsequently, an election petition can also be moved in the concerned High Court in case of any discrepancies.