Section 84 of the Election Rules, 2017 outlines the procedure for the announcement of provisional results.

The announcement of the results is still being awaited hours after polling ended at 5pm on Friday for the general elections 2024.

The section is reproduced below:

• (1) The returning officer (RO) shall prepare the provisional consolidatedstatement of results of the count (excluding postal ballots) of theconstituency, as required under section 92, in Form-47 on the basis ofthe results of the count received by him from presiding officers (PO)electronically under sub-section (2) of section 13 or personallywhichever is earlier.
• (2) The RO shall make sure that result of the countfurnished by PO is arithmetically error-free beforeaccepting the same.
• (3) In case, the RO finds any error in the form, heshall ask the PO to rectify the error and sign thesame in token of the fact that the error has been corrected by thePO himself:
• Provided that in the event of correction of form under this subrule,the PO shall resend electronically the scanned copy ofthe corrected form to the commission:
• Provided further that the RO shall keep copy of thesaid corrected Form and also place the same in the relevant packet.
• (4) After preparing the provisional consolidated statement of resultsof the count under sub-rule (1), the RO shall announcethe same in the presence of such of the candidates, their electionagents or authorised observers as may be present and shall affix acopy of such results at a conspicuous place in his office forinformation of general public:
• Provided that the RO shall forthwith communicate thescanned copy of the Form-47 containing provisional results to thecommission electronically on or before 2am the day immediatelyfollowing the polling day and if, for any reason, the results areincomplete by 2am on the day immediately following the pollingday, the RO shall communicate to the commissionprovisional results as consolidated till that time along with reasonsfor the delay, in writing, while listing the polling stations fromwhich results are awaited and thereafter shall send the completeprovisional results as soon as compiled but not later than 10am
• Provided that where the RO forward a case against thedefaulting presiding officer(s) that delivery of result has beeninordinately delayed, the commission shall initiate disciplinaryproceedings under Section 54 and 55 of the Act and remunerations dueto presiding officer(s) shall be withheld and in case it is alreadypaid shall be recoverable from his salary.