Vote counting for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh began Monday, necessitated by former MLA Rajendra Bharti's disqualification. BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress's Ghanshyam Singh are the main contenders among 21 candidates.
Vote counting for the high-profile Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar has begun, featuring a three-way contest between BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha, RJD's Rekha Gupta, and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who is making his electoral debut. Security is tight amid allegations of police action against Kishor's workers.
Vote counting has commenced for bye-elections in the Datia, Bankipur, and Manjalpur Assembly constituencies. Datia recorded a high voter turnout, while Bankipur and Manjalpur saw lower participation. Datia's district administration implemented three-tier security for transparency, with candidates expressing satisfaction with arrangements, despite accusations of partisan tactics in Bankipur.
A Seoul court denied an arrest warrant for a woman, nicknamed "Oldarc," accused of obstructing business by blocking a vote counting center entrance for two hours last month. The court found no risk of evidence destruction or flight. Warrants were also sought for four men involved in related protests, with one granted.
A woman in her 30s attended her arrest warrant hearing in Seoul for allegedly blocking a vote counting center entrance for two hours last month. Four men also faced hearings for offenses during related protests, including illegally searching belongings and obstructing police duty.
The protest blockading the Seoul Olympic Park vote counting station, sparked by a ballot shortage, has entered its 17th day. While weekend participation has decreased from previous peaks, younger demographics and families with children are increasingly present, with a designated "Olympic Park Kindergarten" area for children. The protest continues with chants and the spread of conspiracy theories, while a citizens' forum nearby has raised concerns about potential clashes.
South Korea's election commission apologized for a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The acting chairman stated that 42,000 ballots remained in the district and explained the decision to print 50% of ballots for the main vote was due to concerns about excess ballots and allegations of election fraud. The commission also appealed to protesters blocking a handball arena to allow the transfer of vote counting materials.
The Jeonbuk Election Commission has admitted to a vote counting error in the recent local election for the Education Superintendent. The mistake, stemming from a mislabeled ballot box record, led to incorrect vote tallies for two candidates. While the commission states the error did not alter the election outcome, it plans to officially correct the results.
Unfounded conspiracy theories claiming fraud in the Los Angeles mayoral election, targeting Spencer Pratt's second-place position, have spread on X, fueled by sponsored posts from influencers paid by prediction market sites Kalshi and Polymarket.
California's slow vote counting process, designed for accuracy and fraud prevention, faces criticism and fraud allegations from Republicans, including Donald Trump, despite experts assuring the system's integrity.
South Korea's National Election Commission will investigate ballot paper shortages and delays in vote counting caused by protests. Protesters are blocking the transfer of ballot boxes from a polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, demanding a recount.
Ballot shortages at 14 polling stations in Seoul during South Korea's local elections led to protests and delayed vote counting. Demonstrators demanded a rerun, with some citing Taiwan's no-advance-voting system as a model.
California's gubernatorial primary is too close to call, with vote counting ongoing. Across the US, midterm primaries reveal key trends: Democratic desire for change, Trump's influence on GOP voters, and economic concerns. Key House and Senate races are set for November.
California's gubernatorial primary remains undecided, with Steve Hilton leading for Republicans and Xavier Becerra for Democrats. US primary elections revealed trends for the November midterms, including voter concerns about the economy and Donald Trump's influence.
Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok called for a halt to vote counting due to a ballot shortage in some Seoul polling stations, urging a formal investigation into whether the printing shortage was a directive or a local decision.
Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon demanded a halt to vote counting until the National Election Commission completes remedial measures for polling stations experiencing ballot shortages, emphasizing that citizens' right to vote must not be infringed.
California's gubernatorial primary remains too close to call as vote counting continues. Xavier Becerra (D) and Steve Hilton (R) lead, with Tom Steyer (D) in third. The top two advance to the general election.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has established a situation room to monitor the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections' vote counting in real-time and respond to emergencies. Minister Yoon Ho-jung inspected the situation room and urged officials to maintain readiness.
Vote counting is underway in Italy's municipal elections across nearly 750 towns. Early projections and exit polls indicate potential first-round victories for center-left and center-right candidates in several key cities, including Salerno, Venice, Reggio Calabria, and Prato.
Vote counting for West Bengal's Falta Assembly seat is underway, with BJP candidate Debangshu Panda taking a significant lead. The constituency recently held a repoll due to allegations of electoral irregularities and EVM tampering. High security is in place at counting centers.
Vote counting is ongoing for assembly elections across five states, with early trends showing the BJP leading in West Bengal and Assam and expected to retain power in Puducherry.
Early counting trends for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections indicate a strong lead for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ahead in 78 out of 125 constituencies. The Indian National Congress follows with leads in 24 seats.
Vote counting for Kerala's Assembly elections begins, determining the fate of the ruling LDF, opposition UDF, and BJP-led NDA. Exit polls indicate a close contest, with the UDF aiming for a comeback after a decade.
India's 2026 assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry (824 seats) represent a pivotal test for BJP's expansion into South and East regions where it has not fully consolidated power. Turnout has been exceptionally high: West Bengal ~91%, Tamil Nadu 85.1%, Assam ~86%, Kerala ~80%, Puducherry ~90%. The BJP-led NDA currently governs 21 of 31 states, and these elections will determine whether regional resistance is softening or holding firm. Counting begins May 4, 2026.
