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BJP’s paid Exit Poll analysis over, Opposition now focused on Fair Vote Counting on 23rd May : CPI-M demands Tight Security, Protection in Counting Day
TIWN May 20, 2019
BJP’s paid Exit Poll analysis over, Opposition now focused on Fair Vote Counting on 23rd May : CPI-M demands Tight Security, Protection in Counting Day
PHOTO : Vote Counting. TIWN File Photo.

AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, May 20 (TIWN): After surprises all across Exit Poll results and shocks for opposition and a greater section of voters, opposition parties now have taken oath for a fair vote counting on 23rd May. CPI-M State General Secretary Gautam Das has sought huge security deployment on vote counting day, whereas acting on the demand of the opposition party, CO Sriram Taranikanti has directed the IGP to give full security on vote counting day, so that no disturbance can occur on the voting hours. The CPI-M has told the EC that since March 3rd of 2018 severe attacks on opposition took place, whereas it manifested during polling sessions badly. The CPI-M has demanded proper security to the counting agents, huge deployment of security in vote counting centres, more securities in sensitive areas like South, Gomati and Northern Tripura. CPI-M also asked the EC to ensure no violence or disturbance in the vote counting day.The final results of Lok Sabha election 2019 might be announced around 10 pm on 23rd May.

The delay is because the tallying of the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips with EVM count has increased from one to five per assembly segment, following the Supreme Court order.

The SC on April 8 had instructed the Election Commission (EC) to increase the VVPAT slips tally of at least five EVMs from the earlier one EVM per assembly segment in a Lok Sabha constituency

This process of counting is expected to take well over five hours per constituency because the physical verification will be done sequentially for five EVMs. The counting of VVPAT slips per EVM takes up to one hour.

The tallying process will only begin after the last round of counting. Except for an increase in VVPATs, these general elections also witnessed more than 1.3 million services voters (those in defence) who sent their downloaded ballot through the electronic postal ballot system. This too can delay the result timeline of Lok Sabha election 2019 a bit, according to EC officials.

However, to ensure that there is a single source of authentic data, the EC has emphasised that round-wise data must be entered into its Suvidha application. The EC officials can log into the app and feed in the data. This will be done before the round results are declared at the counting centres.

The Lok Sabha election 2019 is the first ever polling exercise where EVM results will be matched with VVPAT slips. In the General elections of 2014, the EC used VVPATs for a pilot run in eight out of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, however, no tallying was done. But this time it will be done in exclusive and safe counting booths and the returning officer and his/her deputy will directly supervise the tallying of VVPAT slips with EVM count.

Meanwhile, the entire EC machinery is preparing for the counting day. Dry runs will be carried out on 21st May from 8 am to 1 pm across all states. All the additional returning officers, returning officers, information officers and system administrators will test all networks and applications as well as the personnel and infrastructure stationing.

Counting trainers who are specially trained will be sent to each state for the final counting day to ensure glitch-free counting and tallying. The EC has also asked the State CEOs to make sure that all counting centres are robust with complete Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The Telecom department too has been asked to ensure that there is no disturbance in connectivity to counting centres on May 23.

The EC had earlier this month instructed all states to set up model counting centres at state headquarters. All returning officers and assistant returning officers will be trained and oriented at these head offices on vote counting for EVMs and VVPATs.

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