Calculators, mobiles will be prohibited in counting halls
Bhopal: Deputy Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India Shri Ajay Bhadoo and Chief Electoral Officer Madhya Pradesh, Shri Anupam Rajan held video conferencing with all the Collectors, District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police of the state .
Deputy Election Commissioner Shri Bhadoo and Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajan said that only authorised persons holding passes issued by the Election Commission of India will be able to enter the counting centre. No unauthorised or unwanted person will be allowed to enter the counting venue. Carrying mobile phones and calculators to the counting centre will be prohibited, only the counting personnel deployed for counting of votes will be able to use the calculators.
Deputy Election Commissioner of ECI gave instructions
The Deputy Election Commissioner held one-to-one discussions with all the 52 Collectors and District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police of the state and reviewed in sequence the preparations made for counting of votes in the districts. He said that all the norms and protocols should be strictly followed in the entire process of counting postal ballots. Counting of votes recorded in EVMs should be started only after half an hour of starting the counting of postal ballots. Train counting workers and micro observers to count the votes recorded in EVMs.
Ensure smooth supply of power
In the review meeting regarding preparations for counting of votes, Shri Rajan said that the counting of votes will start from 8 am in the counting centers of all 52 districts. Counting of postal votes will begin first. Half an hour later, the counting of votes recorded in EVMs will begin at 8.30 am. Before the counting of postal ballots begins, the authorized agent will brief the candidate about the counting process of the postal ballot. Also, after the counting of postal ballots is over, the postal ballot papers received by each candidate will be announced.
There should be no crossing of machines
For the counting of votes to be held on 3rd December, Shri Rajan has issued instructions to ensure that the there is no crossing of EVM machines coming from the strong room, coloured ID cards are issued to the agents, arranging meetings of the agents and the screen outside the strong room remains functional for security arrangements of EVMs installed outside the strong room.
Ban on mobile phones in counting hall
CEO Rajan said that no agent or candidate will be able to take mobile phones in the counting hall. Mobile phones will be completely banned. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajesh Kumar Kaul, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rakesh Singh, Shri Basant Kurre, Smt. Ruchika Chauhan, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Shri Pramod Kumar Shukla, Smt. Surbhi Tiwari were present in the meeting.
