The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been locked away in strong rooms in various district headquarters after polling got over in the seven lok Sabha constituencies in the third and final phase of polling in Chhattisgarh on April 24. The EVMs will be opened for counting on May 16.
After polling got over, the EVMs were shifted from the polling centres to the strong rooms in the various district headquarters.
In Raipur lok Sabha constituency, the shifting of EVMs continued until Friday morning. The Raipur district administration has created a strong room at the Government Engineering College building at Sejbahar where the EVMs of the Raipur lok Sabha constituency have been kept under tight security.
Apart from six Assembly segments of Raipur lok Sabha seat, the EVMs of Abhanpur and Dharsiwa have also been kept in the strong room at Government Engineering College at Sejbahar.
The EVMs of Bhatapara and Baloda Bazar Assembly segments have been sealed in the strong room of Baloda Bazar district headquarters. Counting of votes of both the segments would be conducted at Baloda Bazar district headquarters itself, officials said.
Overall, the counting of votes for the State’s 11 lok Sabha seats would be held in the respective districts. Strong rooms have been set up in the counting venues and Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed for monitoring all activities at the venues.
Security personnel have been deployed in each of the counting centres. Sources said the candidates, if they so desire, can arrange the stay of their agents by putting up tents near the respective counting centres.
The EVMs would be kept under tight security for 22 days and the concerned administration has made elaborate arrangements in this regard. The Election Commission has also been monitoring all the arrangements at the strong rooms.
Meanwhile, the women employees who were engaged in poll work had faced difficulties after polling got over in the seven lok Sabha constituencies. Earlier they were told that the Commission will free them after voting. later it was left with the concerned presiding officers to take a call on the matter. As a result, many women among the polling staff had to stay till late at night in different polling centres.