Explained: Candidates’ victory is written on 15 tables and 1 blackboard, who counts the votes, know the entire process of counting votes

New Delhi: Now everyone is waiting for the results of the elections for the 18th Lok Sabha in the country. Will the ruling Narendra Modi government get the throne for the third consecutive time or will the opposition India Alliance be able to make some big upset. While the ruling party is elated with the exit polls, the opposition is still adamant on its claim of victory. It remains to be seen who wins on June 4. Before that, let us also know about the counting of votes. After all, how is the counting done, who does it and who can we go to complain to if any flaw is found. Let us understand all the important questions related to counting.

Who are counting agents and why are they necessary

This is the representative of the candidate. his/her job is to keep an eye on the counting process throughout the day until the counting is over. he/she reports any discrepancy to the party or the candidate. The counting agent helps in keeping the counting process transparent.

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Who cannot be made a counting agent

Any counting agent should be a citizen of India. he/she should not be less than 18 years of age and should have an understanding of the counting process. A sitting MP, MLA, minister, mayor or chairperson of a municipality, taluka or district council cannot be made a counting agent. Similarly, government employees and people from institutions cannot become counting agents.

Where is the vote counting taking place

The Returning Officer (RO) has to inform every candidate in writing about the exact location of the counting hall. This information has to be given to the RO 7 days before the date of polling is fixed. For an assembly seat, usually all the votes are counted at one place. Whereas, for a Lok Sabha seat, the votes are counted at several places. Usually this counting takes place at the centre of the Lok Sabha constituency.

How many counting agents can there be

The Returning Officer asks each candidate to arrange tables for the counting hall. Usually, there are a maximum of 15 tables where votes are being counted. The 15th table is for the Returning Officer. Votes are counted on the remaining 14 tables. A candidate can deploy a counting agent for each table. The Returning Officer decides who will sit at which table.

Which votes are counted first?

The Election Commission has directed that the postal ballots will be counted first. These postal ballots are of the security personnel, polling officers, polling agents and government officials, army personnel and government employees engaged in the elections. The votes recorded in the EVM are counted only 30 minutes after the counting of postal ballots is over. Their counting is done under the supervision of the Returning Officer (RO) or Assistant Returning Officer (ARO). This Returning Officer is usually the District Magistrate.

Understand here how the votes recorded in EVM are counted

There are three things in the Electronic Voting Machine i.e. EVM- Ballot unit, on which the voter presses the button for his/her/her favourite candidate. Control unit, in which the record of the voter’s choice is recorded. Third, there is the VVPAT unit, from which the voter’s choice slip comes out and is displayed on it. After the voting is over, the EVM is kept in the strong room.

EVM counting will start 30 minutes after postal ballots

Counting of votes recorded in the control unit of EVM starts 30 minutes after counting of postal ballot votes. Suppose the votes of control unit of polling station 1 are to be counted, then it will be placed on table number 1. Similarly, the rest of the control units will also be placed. After counting them, the result is displayed on the blackboard, white board or TV set placed in front of all the tables in the hall with the permission of RO or ARO. It is mandatory to bring Form 17-C along with every control unit, which contains the record of the votes cast at the respective polling station.

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How to open the control unit, understand the whole process

The control units are brought to the counting hall in closed boxes under tight security. Every control unit has a unique ID. The counting officer matches this unique ID with the unique ID recorded in Form 17-C. This is also brought to the counting hall along with the control units. After the votes are recorded, the control units are sealed. It is opened on the day of counting in the presence of counting officers and counting agents. If the ID number of the control units does not match with the ID number on Form 17-C, then the counting agents can raise an objection. If the ID numbers do not match, the votes will be counted from the VVPAT slip attached to the control unit. If everything goes well, the result button will be pressed on the control unit, after which the complete count of votes according to the candidate will be displayed.

What Rule 56D of the Election Rules, 1961 says

According to Rule 56D of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, if a candidate applies to the Returning Officer for permission to count the VVPAT slips, then the Returning Officer can grant this permission on these grounds. Such as – the total number of votes cast at the voting station is less or more than the margin votes of the winning candidate and the applying candidate i.e. the losing candidate. Or if the EVM and VVPAT have malfunctioned on the day of voting and have been replaced. Apart from this, if a complaint has been made about not receiving the VVPAT slip after casting the vote, then this permission can also be given.