Assembly polls 2016: How counting of votes takes place

New Delhi, May 18: It's just a few hours before the fates of a number of politicians, heavyweight or not, will be known. Results of four states and one Union Territory will be declared on Thursday (May 19).

However, although we all are interested to know the results, do we know how the counting of votes take place? [What is difference between vote-share and contested vote share?]

Here is a look at the procedure:

COUNTING OF VOTES

• The counting personnel will be given the postal ballots around 7.45 am.
• The counting of the ballots will begin at 8 am sharp.
• At 8.30 am, counting of the postal ballots will be suspended if the procedure is not over and the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be taken up.
• After 11 rounds of counting of the EVM ballots, the remaining postal ballots, if there are any, will be counted.
• After the postal ballots' are done with, the EVM ballots' counting will resume.

  

  ABOUT THE COUNTING VENUE & PERSONNEL

  • The counting personnel, who are picked from public sector units and the central and state govenments---see three steps.

    First, they are chosen for a counting centre a week before and sent for training.

    Second, they are allotted to a constituency 24 hours before the counting starts.

    And finally, on D-Day, the personnel are given their tables at 5 am.
    
  • Each counting table has a counting supervisor, an assistant and also a micro observer.

  ABOUT OBSERVERS

  • A counting observer is allotted to each constituency and they report to the Election Commission.
  • After every round of counting, the observer randomly picks two voting machines to reassess the results.
  • The observers check proceedings several times at the end of each round and then reports it to the commission. Thereafter, they publicly announce the results at the media centre inside the venue.
  • At the end of the counting process, the observers will check the numbers thrice and also verify them with the counting personnel at each table before asking the returning officer to declare the results.
  • The entire process at the venue will be captured in video.

  SECURITY/RESTRICTIONS

  • Section 144 will be in force within 100-metre periphery. Shops and other public places where gathering takes place will be closed.
  • No vehicle will be allowed within 100-metre periphery.
  • Nobody excepting the observers will be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the counting venue.
  • The counting personnel can not exit and re-enter the counting centres during the exercise.