The Election Commission of India has directed counting observers to ensure that EVM’s control unit display panel is shown to candidates’ agents during counting of votes for Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha election on December 8. The directive was issued so that candidates’ agents can count votes polled in favour of every candidate.
If required, concerning counting assistant will have to lift up the control unit to such a height from where not only counting supervisors but also other counting assistants, micro observers sitting on counting tables and candidates’ agents sitting beyond iron grill can see it.
If an agent insists on seeing results on EVM more than once then the counting observer will have to do so to satisfy him. The Commission has also directed that tabulation sheet (form-17 C) reaches the table of a returning officer then it will be his duty to let candidate/his agent/counting agent sitting near him to note down every candidate’s result.
Other directives regarding counting issued by the commission include that returning officer should provide copies of round-wise result sheets to candidates and their election agents.
Copies of result sheet of round will be provided by concerning returning officer soon after its declaration. As per commission’s directive, this entire process will have to be video-graphed. After counting, concerning returning officer will give one CD each of the video-graphic recording to every candidate or his election agent free of cost. The commission has directed every district election officer and returning officer to ensure strict compliance of these directives.