Counting of votes for MLC polls tomorrow

The district administration has made all the arrangements for the counting of votes in the elections held for two seats of Dakshina Kannada local authority constituency on December 30.

Deputy Commissioner, who is also the District Returning Officer (DRO), A B Ibrahim is hopeful of completing the counting process by 6 pm.

Briefing mediapersons in the City on Monday, Ibrahim said that the constituency (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts) has registered 99.60 per cent polling in the election held on December 27. Out of the 6,560 voters in the constituency, 6,534 voters have exercised their franchise, he added.

Counting process
“The ballot boxes from all the 410 polling booths have been kept in two strong rooms at Ladyhill Victoria Composite PU College in Mangaluru. Security is being provided to the strong room by two police inspectors, two assistant police inspectors, 14 police constables and three head constables. The counting will commence from 8 am on December 30. A total of 14 tables will be arranged for the counting of votes. Each table will have an additional nodal officer apart from counting officials. Barring the counting agent, candidate and election officials, nobody is allowed inside the counting room,” said Ibrahim.

“There will be around 261 bundles of ballot papers. All the bundles will be put inside drums for mixing of the bundles. In the preliminary counting, 25 bundles of ballot papers will handled. The actual counting of preferential votes will commence around 11 am,” explained the official.

He added that the use and carrying of mobile phones, electronic items and arms inside the counting premises are prohibited.

Explaining further, Ibrahim said that in the beginning, the valid votes will be selected. “Each table will have 11 trays – including eight for candidates, one for NOTA, one for rejected and another for doubtful ballot papers. The quota for the winning candidate will be calculated by the total number of valid votes, divided by number of seats to be filled plus 1 which has to be added by 1,” he added.

The DRO also said that tea and coffee will be served to the election agents of the candidates, to ensure that there was no waste of time while counting the votes. No vehicles will be allowed to enter the counting premises. All the vehicles of the election agents, candidates have to be parked at the Karavali grounds. The entire counting process will be recorded as a video, the official added.
DH News Service