The district administration and police have made comprehensive security and other necessary measures to ensure smooth and trouble-free execution of the counting process for the Assembly election 2023 at Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, on Sunday. A robust three-tier security cordon was established at the counting venue with a significant deployment of police personnel and para-military forces both inside and outside the counting centre. Surrounding routes leading to the venue were barricaded, restricting normal traffic and only authorised individuals were permitted access. Vigilance by the police was maintained to monitor all movements in the vicinity. Counting process commenced promptly at 8 am, starting with counting of postal ballots. Following this, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were securely transported from the Strong Room to the counting tables for counting and tabulation process. Access to the counting hall was strictly regulated, allowing only authorised personnel such as counting observers, counting assistants, micro observers, individuals authorised by the Election Commission, on-duty public servants, candidates and their designated counting agents.

 

In order to ensure transparency throughout the vote counting process, officials and employees assigned to counting duties were briefed about their respective tables and the Assembly. This briefing took place upon their arrival at the counting venue at 6 am. The Election Commission Observer and District Election Officer arrived at the counting centre at 5 am for the third and final phase of randomisation. Subsequently, the District Election Officer provided the list of officials and employees trained for the counting process to the observers. This list included names of counting observers and other counting assistants, each assigned a unique serial number and code indicating their category. Following final randomisation, returning officers received their area-wise election postings at 6 am. At 6.30 am, the Strong Room, storing EVMs and VVPAT machines under tight security, was opened in presence of Election Commission Observers, representatives from recognised political parties. The machines were taken to 126 counting tables. As per the directions of the Election Commission of India, 14 to 18 tables were used for counting of votes cast in each Assembly constituency.

 

Counting of votes of Bargi, Jabalpur West, Panagar and Sihora was conducted in 18 rounds, while counting of votes of Patan, Jabalpur East and Jabalpur West was done in 17 rounds and votes casted in Jabalpur Cantt. Assembly was done in 16 rounds. As per the direction of the Election Commission counting of postal ballot papers was done first. After half-an-hour counting of votes casted through EVM was started. Earlier, treasury at Collectorate was opened at 6.30 am and postal ballot boxes were taken under police protection to counting centre. Office bearers of political parties and election agents were present on the occasion. In order to ensure transparency in counting process the election officers cross checked EVM votes with slips of VVPAT machines in presence of Election Commission observers, candidates and their authorised election agents. District election office has provided round-wise results of Assembly election on various websites apart from uploading the results on Election Commission’s website eciresults.nic.in.

 

Likewise, the district administration had also installed big LED screens at Square near Civic Center Park and Chhoti Line Crossing to display real-time election results. As a precautionary measure, the Commercial Tax Department of State Government declared Sunday as dry day. Sale, distribution and transportation of liquor was completely prohibited in the district. The district administration had declared 100-metre periphery of the counting centre as pedestrian zone. No vehicles were allowed within 100 metre limits of the venue from early morning till late in the night. District Election Officer and Collector Saurabh Kumar Suman along with other senior election officials and Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Singh remained on their toes throughout the day. He along with the senior officials remained present in the counting venue and monitored conduction of the counting process.