Once the votes are cast at the polling station, the daunting task of poll count and consolidation begins.

The process is crucial, for it has been the focus of election discourse in Pakistan — given its lack of transparency and prospects of rigging.

Fortunately, the Elections Act 2017 has introduced various requirements to ensure checks and deter attempts at fraud.

Of its many additions to the count process, the law now requires Presiding Officers to transmit an electronic “snapshot” of results forms to Returning Officers and has obliged the Election Commission of Pakistan to publish on its website polling station and constituency results forms within 14 days of polling.

Here is what you need to know about how your votes are processed.