VVPAT slips of 35 EVMs to be counted in Warangal

Warangal: The Warangal Lok Sabha Elections Returning Officer, Prashanth Jeevan Patil, directed the officials to make fool-proof arrangements for counting of votes on May 23, in accordance with the norms of Election Commission of India (ECI).

At a meeting with the assistant returning officers of seven Assembly segments here on Wednesday, he said that identity cards should be given to all those officials participating in the counting duty. He said that 14 tables for each round will be set up.

The counting of votes will take place round-wise – Bhupalpally 23 rounds, Palakurthy 21 rounds, Wardhannapet 20 rounds, Warangal West 18, Warangal East 15 rounds and Parkal 17 rounds, the Collector informed. He said that they will count VVPAT slips of five randomly selected electronic voting machines (EVMs) each from seven Assembly segments.

"There was no need for completing counting of votes in a hurried manner," Patil said, directing the officials to follow the guidelines of ECI.

Patil told the returning officers to ensure the counting arrangements before May 19 so that the general observer would inspect and submit a report to the ECI. He said that priority be given to proper training for the counting staff.

Joint collector S Dayanand, assistant returning officers K Venka Reddy, N Ravi Kiran, Mahender Reddy, Venkatachary, Ramesh and Kishan were among others present.