Kerala Gears Up for Vote Counting: Election Commission Finalizes Arrangements
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With only five days remaining for the counting of votes in the state, the Election Commission has announced that all primary preparations are now complete. The final phase of training for officials assigned to counting duty is expected to be concluded by Friday, ensuring that the personnel are fully prepared for the process scheduled for June 4.
The counting process will commence on Tuesday morning, starting with postal ballots, followed by the counting of votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The Election Commission has organized the counting halls based on the volume of EVMs, with each hall featuring between seven and 14 tables. To ensure transparency, special arrangements have been made for counting agents from various political parties to observe the proceedings from designated areas behind barricades near each table. A similar monitoring facility will be available at the stations where postal votes are tallied, and an Assistant Returning Officer will supervise each hall.
The Commission has also issued stringent guidelines regarding the handling of postal ballots. Any ballots received after the officially designated start time will not be considered and will be sealed in separate packets without being opened. Furthermore, the Returning Officer has been granted the authority to reject any ballots that lack a proper declaration or the required signature. Currently, training sessions for micro-observers and counting supervisors are in the final stages to ensure the entire operation remains seamless and secure.