For the counting of votes on Friday, the Hyderabad District Election Officer will receive a total of 450 Printer-cum-Auxiliary Display Units (PADUs) that will facilitate printing of the results.
The PADU is part of the upgraded EVM that is being used in some States this election, and is an additional feature that helps in printing the results at the end of counting from the EVM control unit. As per the Election Commission’s guidelines, each counting table is to be provided with one unit, and another for the micro-observer.
The EC has also asked electoral officers to have the counting staff and micro-observers trained in handling the upgraded EVMs, and also meet the political parties, contesting candidates or their agents, to brief them about the use of the printing units.
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For the two Parliament and 15 Assembly constituencies in Hyderabad district, the authorities are making arrangements at 15 different centres for counting of votes.
“We are arranging for a total of 211 counting tables at the identified 15 counting centres. The counting personnel have already completed one round of training. A day before the counting, they will be briefed again about the equipment and procedures,” a senior GHMC official said.
The counting staff will be allotted their respective constituency of operation only 24 hours in advance, and are expected to report at the centre on Friday morning. The counting process will begin at 8 a.m. for the postal ballots and EVMs at 8.30 a.m.
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“The initial rounds are usually a bit slow and later rounds will be concluded in 15 minutes to 20 minutes each. The results should be ready for declaration by 1.30 p.m., or at the most by 2 p.m.,” the official added.