All arrangements for counting of ballots completed, No victory procession allowed : ECI

All arrangements for counting of votes of the bye-elections of one Lok Sabha and three assembly constituencies competed in Himachal Pradesh, stated ECI here on Monday.

Chief Electoral Officer, Himachal Pradesh, C. Palrasu informed that after the peaceful polling for the bye-election-2021, now all the preparations have been completed for the counting of votes. He informed that the counting of votes would be started from 0800 hrs on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Counting of votes for Mandi parliamentary constituency and bye-elections for Fatehpur, Arki and Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly constituencies would be conducted amidst tight security at the respective centres.

A counting assistant and a counting inspector (supervisor) would be posted at each table other than the returning officer’s table in the counting centre. He said that 11 counting observers have been deployed for the counting of votes in Mandi parliamentary constituency, while for Fatehpur, Arki and Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly constituencies, only three general observers have been posted as counting observers. Apart from this, one micro observer has also been deployed at each counting table.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that two separate centers have been set up to complete the counting of postal ballot papers and ETPBS votes in Mandi parliamentary constituency, while for counting of postal ballots and ETPBS votes in Fatehpur, Arki and Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly constituencies.  A separate center has been set up for each.  In such a situation, the counting of votes cast through EVMs and postal ballots can start at the same time.

He also informed that in compliance with the guidelines issued in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be a ban on taking out victory processions by the winning candidates or their supporters after the declaration of the results of the counting of votes.

Apart from this, not more than two people will be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his authorized representative while taking the election certificate from the Returning Officer.