Shivamogga: Deputy Commissioner/Returning Officer K A Dayanand has confirmed that all the necessary arrangements for general election vote counting were in place in the counting centre.
Addressing a press briefing here on Wednesday, May 22 he said, “The counting will begin at 8 AM and all the EVMs and VVPATs are kept in place in eight secured rooms. The EVMs and VVPATs will be moved from the security room at 7 AM to the counting centre. Every booth will have 14 benches. Counting of Shivamogga Rural assembly constituency votes will be done in one room only. In all, 15 counting booths are set for the process.”
“Every bench will be having a counting officer, an assistant and micro observer. One agent per candidate will be allowed to observe the counting process. In Shivamogga city, 21 rounds and in Shikaripur, 17 rounds of counting will be carried out. We have noticed that the result of three trial votes have not been erased. Such votes will be checked through VVPATs. In all 40 VVPATs including two from each assembly constituency will be taken into consideration”, he added.
Dayanand said, “Mobile phones within the counting booths are strictly prohibited. The staff and counting officials have to be in the counting booths by 7:30 AM. Agent of each candidate should be present by 8 AM.”
Superintendent of Police Dr. Ashwini said, “We have ensured that tight security is in place for smooth functioning of counting process. For this, a total of 1019 police officers, 521 Home Guards, 5 KSRP, 14 DAR, 1 CRPF and 1 SSB platoons have been deployed.
“In the counting booth, 490 police officials, 78 Home Guards, 2 KSRP, 4 DAR and 1 CRPF personnel have been deployed. Section 144 is clamped throughout the district”, she added.
