Preparations on for counting of votes in Ernakulam, Chalakkudy

All counting centres will be monitored through CCTVs

With just three days left for counting of votes to the Lok Sabha elections, preparations have gathered momentum at the three counting centres for Ernakulam and Chalakkudy constituencies.

According to District Collector MG Rajamanickam, who is also the district returning officer, counting will be carried out on 10 to 14 tables simultaneously, under the supervision of assistant returning officers in all the three centres in the district on May 16.

“A batch of 960 counting staff, including 320 counting supervisors, will be deployed in the counting centres and the training for these officers will be held in two sessions on Tuesday’’, he said.

Unlike the last time, counting of votes in all the seven Assembly segments within the limits of the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency will be carried out at the Maharaja’s College auditorium.

Similarly, counting of votes cast in Kaipamangalam, Kodungalloor and Chalakudy Assembly constituencies falling within the limits of the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency will be held at Bharata Mata College, Thrikkakara, while the votes in the remaining Assembly constituencies of Perumbavoor, Angamaly, Aluva and Kunnathunad will be counted at St. Paul’s International School, Kalamassery.

Postal ballots for both the Lok Sabha constituencies will be counted at the Maharaja’s College under the supervision of a Returning Officer.

Updated results

Activities at all the counting centres will be monitored through CCTVs and display boards will be set up outside the centres, which will provide updated results to the public after each round of counting. “The facility is being installed in association with a group of students from the CUSAT Engineering College, who will be also given training on the counting process’’, the Collector said.

Separate space will be designated in the centres for counting vote on the basis of Assembly constituencies and randomisation of counting officials will be done only in the morning of May 16. Officials deployed for counting duty will also be given identity cards.

Curb on cell phone

Each counting table will be under the supervision of a counting supervisor, assistant counting officers and a micro observer. Counting agents of candidates will also be present.

Use of mobile phones will not be permitted within the counting centres. Persons who do not have the special passes of the Election Commission will not be permitted to enter the counting centres.

Those entering the counting station will have to go through three layers of security checks, set up jointly by the State police and the Central police force.