Ensure proper management of vote counting arrangements – Chief Election Commissioner Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner reviews preparations for counting of votes through VC

Ensure proper management of vote counting arrangements – Chief Election Commissioner Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, Shri Rajiv Kumar. held a review meeting through video conferencing on Monday, 27 May, to take stock of the preparations for the counting of votes for Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Chief Electoral Officer (Madhya Pradesh) Anupam Rajan along with Collectors and District Election Officers of all the districts of the state and Returning Officers of 29 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies, participated in the meeting.

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar told to ensure that all the preparations and necessary arrangements related to vote counting are managed properly. He instructed to get all arrangements including the security of the counting venue, entry into the counting complex, ambulance given the heat, medicines, fire brigade, rotation-wise exchange of counting information, transportation of EVMs from the strong room to the counting center, counting of postal ballots, etc. under their supervision. He told to provide thorough training to all counting personnel and micro observers so that there is no scope for error in the counting of votes.

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajan informed the Election Commission of India about the preparations being made for the counting of votes to be held on June 4 in all the districts of the state. In the VC, Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India Gyanesh Kumar, and Dr. S.S. Sandhu were also present.

Only those with admit cards will be allowed

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Kumar said that special attention should be paid to the arrangements for entry into the counting center. Only officers, employees, counting agents, journalists and security personnel holding authorization letters will be allowed to enter the counting center. Also make necessary arrangements for crowd management outside the counting center premises.

Install adequate number of CCTV cameras

An adequate number of CCTV cameras should be installed outside and inside the premises and every activity should be closely monitored. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Kumar said that all returning officers should thoroughly study all the rules and guidelines regarding the counting of votes and accordingly get the counting done without any hindrance.

Shri Kumar praised the returning officers, collectors and district election officers, and police officers of all 29 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies of Madhya Pradesh for conducting peaceful voting and said that it was a big teamwork, which was completed without any hindrance.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajesh Kaul, Inspector General of Police and State Police Nodal Officer Shri Anshuman Singh, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Shri Basant Kurre, Shri Tarun Rathi, and Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Shri Pramod Shukla were present in the VC.