India decides

New Delhi: A new power centre will emerge in Delhi by 5 pm on Friday. Whether it is on the expected lines, or the country is in for a surprise, we will know by then. A larger-than-life picture of Narendra Modi is in the mind of most Indians; but the possibility of Mamata Manerjee or Jayalalithaa springing a surprise cannot be ruled out. Elections are about surprises and let’s wait for the surprise of 2014!

A clear picture of the election trends would emerge by 11 am, though the trickle will start from 8: 30 am. The counting will begin at 8 am, spread across 989 centres. The final result will be known before 4 pm, perhaps even an hour before.   

The preparatory process will start as early as 5 am, when the district election officer and observers assemble for randomization of counting officials. This may be done either manually or by using a computer. The posting of counting supervisors and counting assistants is done randomly so that they come to know of the assembly constituency or table assigned to them only upon arrival at the counting centre. 

By 6am, the constituency-wise posting lists will be handed over to the returning officer at the counting centre. The counting staff may then position themselves at the assigned counting tables, and be there until the end of counting. However, the DEO/RO may allow them to be relieved by an official from the “reserve pool” if an exigency arises. 

At 8am, counting will start, with postal ballots being counted first. Counting of votes on EVM ballot units may begin half-an-hour after the counting for postal ballots starts. The returning officer is responsible for the table relating to postal ballots. 

A contesting candidate can be present at the counting centre but without his security guards. The only exceptions are candidates with SPG cover, who may be accompanied inside the counting hall with one SPG personnel in plain clothes. A candidate may appoint multiple counting agents, which can go up to one counting agent per counting table. Each counting table is to be surrounded by either a transparent wire mesh or bamboo sticks with enough gap between them, to ensure that the counting agents standing outside the enclosure get a clear view of the counting process and EVM ballot unit. 

Each EVM ballot unit will be taken up for counting in one round at each counting table. However, the last round of EVM count can be held only after the counting of postal ballots is complete. 

Before counting, the seals on the control unit must be duly checked. Once the seals are found in order, the ballot unit is switched on and the results button pressed. This brings up details such as number of candidates, total votes cast and distribution of votes among the candidates as well as NOTA option on the display panel of the EVM. 

The result is then noted by the counting supervisor in Part II-Result of Counting of Form 17C. This is then signed by the counting supervisor and counter-signed by candidates or their agents present at the counting table. The form is then sent to the returning officer, who inspects and signs it, before passing it on to the officer who is compiling the final result and preparing the final result sheet in Form 20. 

Form 20 lists the station-wise votes polled by each candidate. After the entire counting is over, the returning officer announces the total votes polled by each candidate as recorded in the final result sheet. It is only after this that the candidate or his agent may apply for a recount.