The counting agents can be appointed on the basis of candidates’ number during counting of votes for lok Sabha elections as per the directives of the Election Commission. One counting agent each can be appointed for every counting table and one at returning officer’s table for seeing results. In this way, every candidate can appoint maximum 15 counting agents.
At least one week before counting, the returning officer will inform the candidates and their election agents in writing about the place where votes will be counted and its date and time so that they can appoint their counting agents. Such appointments will be made under section 18 of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961. The form will contain name and address of the counting agent and signature of the candidate or his election agent. Two copies of photo-bearing form of every counting agent will be prepared. The candidate will send one of the copies to the returning officer and another to the election agent, which he will produce before the retuning officer.
For the lok Sabha election counting, a candidate can appoint all counting agents through one single form-18. All counting agents will sign the form as acceptance of their appointment. The candidate will have to present photo-bearing lists of such counting agents to the returning officer positively by 5 pm on May 12, three days before the counting date, May 16. The returning officer will get prepared counting agents’ ID cards on receipt of lists.
The returning officer has also been empowered to check the counting agents before entering counting hall. Once inside, the counting agents will not be allowed to go out of the counting hall. The counting agents will not be allowed to carry mobiles.