Daijiworld Media Network – (TP)
Udupi, June 3: Final preparations are underway at St Cecily’s Institution in Brahmagiri, ahead of the counting of votes on June 4.
The electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been meticulously arranged across sufficient counting tables and rooms. The counting of votes for each machine will be conducted in multiple rounds.
The arrangements are as follows: Kundapura will have a total of 14 counting tables with a maximum of 16 rounds, Udupi will have 14 tables with 17 rounds, Kaup will have 14 tables with 15 rounds, Karkala will have 14 tables with 15 rounds, Sringeri will have 14 tables with 19 rounds, Mudigere will have 14 tables with 17 rounds, Chikkamagaluru will have 14 tables with 19 rounds, and Tarikere will have 14 tables with 17 rounds. In total, there will be 112 counting tables with a maximum of 135 rounds.
Postal ballot counting will be conducted in a separate room on the ground floor, with 16 tables dedicated to it.
Additionally, arrangements have been made for an exclusive table for ETPBS pre-counting, along with designated assistant returning officers (AROs) for each table. Five QR code scanners have been reserved for ETPBS scanning, and two separate logins have been created for this purpose.
To ensure the smooth functioning of the counting process, Section 144 has been imposed in the district. Three tiers of security, comprising around 350 policemen and officers, one Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) unit, and one District Armed Reserve (DAR) unit, along with a fire tanker, will be deployed at the counting station.
The counting centre is also equipped with CCTV surveillance. Moreover, for security purposes in sensitive locations, 400 policemen and officers, three KSRP units, and three DAR units have been deployed across the district. June 4 has been declared a dry day.
The process of counting of votes will commence at 8 am, beginning with the postal ballots and ETPBS votes.
Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district Dr Vidya Kumari K visited the counting centre and inspected the final processes.