A three-tier security cover is in place at the 42 counting centres across the State for the Friday’s counting of votes for the 39 Lok Sabha seats. A total of 13,626 police personnel would be deployed for security duties.
Talking to The Hindu , Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said there would be 15 tables in each of six halls for a constituency. The total manpower is likely to be 13,000-14,000. Counting of votes for the Alandur Assembly constituency would also be taken up on Friday. Trends were expected from 10 a.m., Mr. Kumar said.
After the completion of the counting of postal votes, counting of votes polled in the EVMs would be taken up after 30 minutes.
There would be 62 observers at the rate of one-three observers per Lok Sabha constituency. Additional observers were being deployed if the distance between two halls was huge in any counting centre. Chennai South and North and Thanjavur were provided with additional observers, besides micro-observers for each table.
The websites of the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer’s office would be updated at the end of every round. A copy of the round-wise and table-wise result would be given to the agent.
After every round, results would be announced before the next round started. The Returning Officers would obtain authorisation from the observers before declaring results.
Only a maximum of four persons would be allowed with the candidate to the Returning Officer’s room for receiving the certificate of election. Counting agents would not be allowed to bring in their mobile phones and electronic devices.
The entire process of counting was being videographed, and the CD would be kept in the custody of the District Election Officer. Mobile telephones, i-pad, laptop or any such electronic device with recording facilities would not be allowed inside the counting hall. The observers, the Returning Officers and the Assistant Returning Officers would, however, be exempt from this rule.
Liquor shops and bars would remain closed on Friday.
