Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan held a meeting with the Collector and District Election Officers regarding the preparations made in the districts regarding the counting of votes for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023 to be held on December 3. Necessary guidelines were given to all the collectors and district election officers by Chief Electoral Officer Rajan in video conferencing from Nirvachan Sadan, Bhopal.
Rajan said that all collectors and district election officers should study the instructions given by the Commission regarding vote counting and follow the rules seriously. The political parties should also be made aware about the vote counting process. Also, the security arrangements of EVMs should be strong. In the meeting, Rajan gave instructions to complete the vote counting process with complete transparency.
Ensure smooth supply of power
In the review meeting regarding preparations for counting of votes, Rajan said that the counting of votes will start from 8 am in the counting centers of all 52 districts. Counting of postal votes will begin first. Half an hour later, the counting of votes recorded in EVMs will begin at 8.30 am. Before the counting of postal ballot begins, the authorized agent will brief the candidate about the counting process of the postal ballot. Also, after the counting of postal ballots is over, the postal ballot papers received by each candidate will be announced.
Rajan said that it should be ensured that the power supply remains smooth during the counting of votes. An ARO will remain present at each table set-up for counting of postal ballots.
For the counting of votes to be held on 3rd December, Rajan has issued instructions to ensure that the there is no crossing of EVM machines coming from the strong room, coloured ID cards are issued to the agents, arranging meetings of the agents and the screen outside the strong room remains functional for security arrangements of EVMs installed outside the strong room.
Ban on mobile phones in the counting hall
Rajan said that no agent or candidate will be able to take mobile phones in the counting hall. Mobile phones will be completely banned. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Kumar Kaul, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Rakesh Singh, Basant Kurre, Ruchika Chauhan, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Pramod Kumar Shukla, Surbhi Tiwari were present in the meeting.