Shimla: Chief Electoral Officer Pushpendra Rajput reviewed arrangements for counting of votes on 18 December in the State with all District Election Officers through video conferencing. He asked DEOs to ensure all arrangements for counting by 15 December, 2017 positively and also to implement the guidelines of the Commission.
Rajput said quick response code reader to be used in postal ballot counting have been provided for use in postal ballot counting. Containers for counting of VVPAT slips have also been procured and supplied to all ROs.
The commission has ensured training for all officers and officials deployed in counting duties besides ensuring that all arrangements were made properly before the counting process. Adequate staff had been deployed at all 48 identified centers for counting of all 68 assembly constituencies, Rajput added.
Rajput said that there would be complete ban on carrying mobile phones to the counting centers. The facilities would be made available for media persons in the media centers to be established at counting centers for sending news.
Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena also reviewed counting arrangements with Chief Electoral Officer, District Election Officers and Returning Officers.
For November 9 elections, the election commission had set up as many as 7525 Polling Stations in the state. Polling were concluded peacefully in which 74.61 percent polling – highest ever recorded in all assembly elections held in the State so far, were recorded. In figures, 37,21,647 electors cast their vote at 7,525 polling stations in the state. Gender wise, 19, 10,582 females, 18, 11,061 males and 4 third gender voters cast their vote.
