28 counting centres set up: CEO

Srinagar, Oct 7: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang Kondbarao Pole Monday said 28 counting centres for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls had been set up for 90 assembly constituencies in 20 districts of J&K.

“There are 28 counting centres across the J&K and we are fully prepared for the counting,” he said.

Pole said that the vote counting would commence at 8 am on Tuesday.

He said that all the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were securely placed in the strong rooms of all district headquarters.

The CEO said that comprehensive security arrangements had been made for the counting and three-tier security cover has been established around counting centres.

He said that adequate checkpoints had been set up within a 100-meter perimeter of each counting centre and CCTV cameras had been installed in all strong rooms where the EVMs were stored to closely monitor all activities.

“Unauthorised individuals will be restricted from entering these areas and CCTV cameras have been installed at the main entrance and throughout the entire premises of the counting centres to ensure comprehensive monitoring,” Pole said.

He said postal ballots would be counted first, followed by the counting of EVMs after 30 minutes.

The CEO said that accurate information on each round of counting would be uploaded in a timely manner.

He outlined that on the counting day, strong rooms would be opened in the presence of candidates, their authorised representatives, Returning Officers (ROs), Assistant Returning Officers (AROs), and ECI observers and the entire process would be videographed.

Pole said that mobile phones would not be allowed inside the counting centres.

He said that two counting centres each had been set up for Kupwara, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi districts, three counting centres had been set up for migrants while one counting centre each had been established for the remaining districts, where the counting would take place.

The CEO said that to monitor the counting process, various counting observers had also been appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

He highlighted that during the process, only authorised individuals, officials, or staff will be permitted inside and around the counting centres and the public and political party representatives had been requested not to crowd the counting centres and check the results at home.

Pole said that the results would also be available on the ECI’s website http://results.eci.in/ and Voter Helpline App.

He said that media centres had been set up at the counting centres for the press to access the latest updates.

The CEO said that only authorised personnel would be allowed entry into the counting centres. He said that instructions had been given to closely monitor social media to prevent the spread of any rumours related to the counting.