Lok Sabha Verdict: 51 Counting Observers For Assam Deputed By Election Commission

GUWAHATI: Altogether 51 Central Counting Observers have been deputed by the Election Commission (EC) to monitor the counting of votes across the State. During the crucial vote-counting stage on May 23, a micro-observer will be deputed at each counting table. He/she will fill up a form especially allotted for the counting process and submit the duly filled-up form to the Central Counting Observer.

Simultaneous counting will take place across 14 counting tables for each Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) segment.

The Election Commission has chosen the micro-observers from backgrounds in central financial institutions like banks and other organizations. Besides the micro-observers, the other personnel at each counting table will include one counting supervisor, two counting assistants, a grade-IV person and poll agents of the different parties.

Meanwhile, with two days remaining for the counting of votes slated on May 23, the State Election Department, Assam, is now ready for the crucial process that would finally pull down the curtains on the 2019 general elections. Talking to The Sentinel on Monday, Chief Election Officer (CEO), Assam, MC Sahu said, “The Central Counting Observers have started reaching the State. We’re ready for the vote-counting process.”

On the day of counting, first, the postal ballots will be taken up followed by the EVMs. The counting of votes will commence from 8 am on May 23. However, since the counting will be a time-consuming process this time due to the counting of five VVPATs along with EVMs in each legislative assembly constituency, the final results is expected to be declared on Thursday night.

The counting process will be captured live in videos. As per a directive of the Supreme Court, after counting the votes polled in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) of a particular Legislative Assembly constituency (LAC), slips of five randomly selected Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) of that LAC segment will be checked and tallied with the number of polled votes in the EVMs. After that, the slips will be put back in the respective VVPATs that will be sealed and finally locked along with the EVMs in the strong rooms.

A three-layer security arrangement with personnel of CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) and Assam Police has been arranged in all the counting centres. The EVMs and VVPATs are presently stored in 51 strong rooms across the State.

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