Elaborate arrangements in place for GVMC election vote counting exercise
In Short
On Monday evening, Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg and other concerned officials reviewed the arrangements for the counting scheduled for Tuesday at Andhra University.
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Elaborate arrangements in place for GVMC election vote counting exercise
Visakhapatnam: District Collector and District Election Officer M Abhishikth Kishore directed officials to ensure the vote counting exercise for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections is conducted in a transparent, systematic and error-free manner.
On Monday evening, Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg and other concerned officials reviewed the arrangements for the counting scheduled for Tuesday at Andhra University.
The District Collector informed that 113 counting halls are established across eight blocks in the AU north campus and two blocks in the south campus. 1,507 counting tables are arranged, with approximately 5,000 personnel deployed for the counting process.
He stated that elaborate arrangements are made to complete the vote counting in a maximum of two rounds, ensuring timely declaration of results. All officials were instructed to report to their respective counting centres by 5 am on Tuesday. The strong rooms containing ballot papers will open at 6 am in the presence of candidates and their election agents. The ballot papers will subsequently be transported to the counting halls, with the counting process, including postal ballots, scheduled to commence at 8 am.
The Collector directed officials to ensure that ballot papers for the mayoral and ward member elections are counted separately in each counting hall, strictly following prescribed rules and procedures.
To facilitate smooth movement of candidates, election agents and officials, waiting centres are established at each block. Vehicles will be permitted to park 500-mt away from the counting centres.
Emphasising accuracy and accountability, the District Collector instructed officials to thoroughly verify the votes counted in every round and cross-check the figures with the details recorded in the Presiding Officer’s (PO) diary and tabulation records.
He stressed that every stage of the counting process must be conducted with utmost care and transparency, leaving no room for doubts or discrepancies. Officials were also directed to remain vigilant during the recounting process wherever required.
Counting supervisors were instructed to effectively discharge their assigned responsibilities and immediately flag any doubts, discrepancies or unforeseen situations to the notice of the concerned zonal commissioners, Returning Officers and nodal officers for prompt resolution.
The Collector further directed officials to establish a comprehensive three-tier security system at all counting centres and strictly implement the guidelines issued by the Election Commission to ensure peaceful, fair and transparent counting.
With extensive arrangements in place, the district administration is geared up for the smooth completion of the GVMC election vote counting process.
