Vote count rechecks could delay results

Nearly 1,700 employees will be deputed at the Shivajinagar godown on May 16 for the counting of votes for the four seats in Pune district.

Nearly 1,700 employees will be deputed at the Shivajinagar godown on May 16 for the counting of votes for the four seats in Pune district. The Election Commission has instructed observers to verify the votes tallied on EVMs after every round of counting in each Assembly segment; this could delay the results.

Counting will begin at 8 am. For better accuracy and transparency,the Election Commission has introduced a few measures such as the appointment of static observers,or micro counting observers. Each will keep a record of the number of votes polled in each EVM on an assigned counting table,and will report directly to the returning officer of the constituency.

Ten central observers are camping in the district,each with the responsibility of two to three Assembly segments. Each will select two EVMs randomly and cross-check the vote tally on the machine after every round. With the counting for every round starting only after this exercise,the results are likely to be delayed, an election officer said.

The Election Commission has asked all district election officers to upload the vote count after every round in an Assembly segment. Officials are now testing the special software provided for the purpose. Training is under way.

The four seats have 24 Assembly segments counting for each will be simultaneous. Bhor will have 28 counting tables and other Assembly segments will have 14 each.

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