(Image source from: How counting of votes is done in India})
The big day is here with India just hours away from making a new history. Even as the counting of votes kick off at 989 centers across 28 states and seven union territories, all eyes stays fixed on the live poll results. But as the country readies itself to know the fate of 8,000 contestants in fray and welcome a new government to power, know that the election process is still far from over. Just like polling, the counting of votes is going to be an extensive affair, needless to say, a baffling one for you. To help you figure out how India counts its votes, we unravel the massive process for you in snippets.
Representation of the People Act, 1951
Sec 64: Counting of Votes: The votes are counted under the supervision of the Returning Officer. Contesting candidate/election agent/counting agents are also present at the counting venue.
Sec 66: Declaration of results: The Returning Officer declares the result after completion of counting.
Sec 67: Report of the results: The Returning Officer reports the outcome of counting to the Election Commission of India and to the Secretary State Legislature/Parliament who published it immediately in official Gazette.
Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961
Rule 51: The time and place of counting is decided by the Returning Officer one week prior to the date of poll and is notified to the candidate/his/her election agent
Rule 52 : According to the Election Commission of India, a candidate cannot appoint more than16 counting agents for each place of counting.
Rule 53: No other person other than RO/ARO, counting staff, candidates, their election agents and counting agents public servants on duty, persons authorized by ECI are allowed in the venue of counting.
Rule 54: The Returning Officer reads out provision of section-128 aloud before commencement of counting to upkeep secrecy of counting.
Rule 55C: Counting staff and counting agents are required to inspect and ensure that the control unit is not tempered and all seals are intact before beginning the counting.
Infrastructure of the counting centers
Number of tables in counting hall depends upon:
~ Number of polling stations
~ Availability of space
~ Number of counting agents
~ Number of counting staff and micro-observers
~ Security
• In one hall, only 14 counting tables are allowed besides one table each for Returning Officer and observer.
• The candidates or agents are allowed to sit on Returning Officers Table to keep a check on the counting process.
• Adequate barricades (woodblock and wire-mesh) for placed at each counting table to stop agents/candidates/representatives from manhandling polled EVMs. However, provisions are made so that they can watch the counting in full view.
Rules for the Camera
~ Only one official video camera for overall videography is allowed in the counting hall.
~ No still camera, journalist or media person is allowed inside the hall.
~ Press/media persons with valid passes are allowed to take a general view, but they cannot go beyond a certain demarcated line. No matter what, votes recorded in EVM should not be captured by any camera including the official camera.
~ Entire proceeding of counting of votes is to be videographed and its CD is to be kept sealed in a secured place for future reference.
Announcement of the big results
• After all rounds of counting and other formalities are done and final result sheet in FORM-20 is ready, the Returning Officer must not sign it immediately.
• Before announcing the results, the officer must wait for two minutes for the candidate/agent to request for recount of the postal ballots for all or some rounds.
• In this case, the Returning Officer must consider the grounds for recount. If it is found to be unreasonable or frivolous the Returning Officer has the power to turn it down.
• Following any discrepancy, the Returning Officer seeks the observer’s clearance and announces the result following his/her approval.
• After counting of one round is over, the EVMs must be re-sealed.
AW : Suchorita Choudhury
