Returning Officers (ROs), Assistant Returning Officers (AROs), Deputy District Electoral Officer and District Master Trainers on Thursday underwent training on the intricacies of counting and its process in Raipur.

The officials of four assembly constituencies of Raipur, Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara and Gariaband districts participated.

The polling was held on November 12 and 20 in two phases in the State. The counting is scheduled on December 11 at all district headquarters based counting centres.

The officials were imparted training on how to handle the electronic voting machine (EVM), VVPAT, counting of votes, tabulation and data entry, administrative and security arrangements for counting, appointment of counting personnel and counting agents, counting of postal ballot, prominent legal provisions, basic infrastructure of counting centres, declaration of results and follow up actions, including sealing of EVMs and others after final result.

Master trainers emphasised that the Counting Supervisor and Counting Assistant will be persons authorised by the Election Commission while entry will be allowed only to persons having valid identity cards issued by the Commission. No mobile phones will be allowed in the counting hall.

Masters trainers said, “24 hours before counting, assembly wise randomisation of all counting related officials would be carried out in presence of election observers appointed by Election Commission. The table for counting will be allocated at 5.00 am. Each assembly constituency has been provided 14 tables each.”

The officials were intimated that at 8.00 am, the postal ballot will be counted, first and after 30 minutes, the EVM counting will commence.