As the counting of votes in the Kerala Assembly elections began on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said on Sunday that all arrangements were in place for smooth counting across 140 centers in 43 locations.
Officials said 15,465 officials will be deployed, including 140 returning officers, 1,340 additional assistants, 4,208 junior superintendents, 4,208 counting supervisors and 5,563 counting assistants. 32,301 police personnel will also be deployed across the state to maintain law and order and prevent violence.
Kelkar said the preliminary polling numbers were 79.70% after accounting for postal ballots received so far. Of the 53,984 mail ballots issued to Voter Service, 20,028 ballots had been returned by May 1.
The final turnout will be revealed after the Election Commission of India (ECI) releases the index card, a report prepared using data from all registration offices.
“The number is expected to rise as service voters can send in their postal ballots so that the counting begins. Although Sunday is a holiday, we have asked the Postal Department to ensure delivery of postal ballots today. Measures have been taken to deliver all postal ballots received yesterday and today to the respective polling stations,” Kelkar said.
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Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by votes recorded on electronic voting machines (EVMs), with 14 booths being counted in each round. The number of rounds varies based on the total votes cast in each electoral district.
Before the counting begins, the strong rooms, where electronic voting machines and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs) are stored, will be opened in the presence of candidates, representatives of political parties and Election Commission of India officials.
If there is a mismatch between the EVM number and the number of votes cast in the constituency, ECI officials will count the VVPAT slips.
As part of the new reform, a QR code-based photo ID system will be issued to prevent any unauthorized entry into the counting centres, Kelkar said.
These steps would reduce friction and unnecessary verbal quarrels between representatives of political parties in counting centers.
The model code of conduct will be in force in the state till May 6, unless it is withdrawn by the ECI, Kelkar said.
The Kerala Assembly elections were held on April 9.
