Uttarakhand : This time the counting of postal ballots will run with EVMs, counting of votes will start from 8 o’clock tomorrow.
In the counting of votes for the assembly elections to be held in the state on March 10, this time the counting of postal ballots will run along with the counting of votes of EVMs. In the elections held till now, EVMs were counted only after the postal ballots were counted. This time the counting of postal ballots and EVMs will be done in separate rooms. Seven to 14 tables will be installed in each room depending on the place. In these, the counting of votes will be done cycle wise according to the number of polling booths. The counting of postal ballots will start at 8 am and the counting of votes on EVMs will start at 8.30 am. Carrying of mobile phone of anyone at the counting place will be prohibited.
The counting of votes for the Uttarakhand assembly elections is to be held on Thursday. For this, the State Chief Electoral Officer’s office has completed the preparations. State Chief Electoral Officer Sowjanya said that 13 centers, ie one center in each district, have been set up for counting of votes, where EVMs are kept after polling. There will be three-tier security here. In this, police personnel outside, armed police forces in inner areas and Central Armed Police Forces will be deployed at counting places. 70 observers have been deployed to oversee the counting of votes. Deployment of one observer has been ensured for each assembly seat.
Three chambers have been made in each assembly for counting of votes. In two chambers, the voting done in EVM will be counted and one room is kept for counting of postal ballots. Three to 10 pre-counting tables have been set up to calculate the postal ballot, where the Military Postal Ballot (ETPBS) will be counted. Military postal ballots will be sealed in three envelopes. It will contain one QR code in the topmost envelope, two QR codes in the second inner envelope, called the declaration sheet, and one QR code in the innermost envelope. These will be scanned. After that those found to be completely correct will be kept for calculation. The postal ballots of polling personnel, police personnel, voters above the age of 80 years and voters with disabilities will be counted on a separate table. The calculation of ETBPS will take time, so the results of assembly constituencies with less service voters will come sooner and those with more service voters will get results late.
Result will be released after every round
After each round of counting of votes, the returning officer and the observer will release the result with a joint signature. After the counting process is over, the votes will be counted in any of the five VVPAT machines on a random basis. After that the results will be released. In case of dispute in any center, the Returning Officer will have the final authority to take a decision after examining all the aspects. He will also take the advice of the supervisor for this decision.
Single vaccination agent will have to undergo RTPCR test
The Kovid protocol will also be taken care of for the counting of votes. It is mandatory for the counting supervisor and assistant supervisor to apply both doses of corona vaccination. The same arrangement has been made for all the counting agents. Those who have not received both the doses of corona vaccination, they will have to compulsorily show the negative report of RTPCR. After EVMs, counting will also be done on five randomly selected VVPATs. Announcement will be made after full calculation. Some results can come in four hours and some can come the next day also.
