Stage set for counting of votes in Mizoram on Monday

Except for third and final randomisation of counting officials for counting tables to be conducted on early morning of Monday before the counting begins, preparations for counting of votes polled on November 7 to elect 40-member Mizoram legislative assembly is completed, state election officials said on Sunday.

State additional chief electoral officer H Lianzela said that all the counting officials have completed their training on Saturday and final rehearsal had also been completed in all the districts for the counting of votes to be undertaken on Monday.

“Final randomisation of election officials for allocation of their respective counting tables will be conducted early on Monday morning before the counting begins at 0800 hours,” Lianzela said and informed that all the counting officials have been directed to reach their respective counting halls latest by 0500 hrs.

Over 4,000 counting officials will be involved in the counting of votes to be conducted in 11 district headquarters.

Lianzela said that counting of postal ballots will be taken up at 0800 hrs to be followed by counting of votes polled through electronic voting machines (EVMs).He said that speedy counting and declaration of results are usually slowed down by verification of votes polled through VVPATs.

He said that votes will be counted in 13 counting centres in 11 district headquarters and there will be 40 counting halls, one hall each for an assembly constituency, which will be monitored by one counting observer each.There will be 399 counting tables for counting of votes polled in EVMs and 56 counting tables for postal ballots, he said.

Chief Electoral officer Madhup Vyas told reporters on Saturday that fool-proof security arrangements are made for the counting with both the state police and the central armed police force (CAPF) being deployed in all the counting halls.

The Election Commission on Friday (December 1) night announced a revision of the date of counting of votes in the Mizoram Assembly elections from Sunday (December 3) to Monday (December 4).

In a press release, the EC said Sunday holds “special significance” for the people of Mizoram, referring to the fact that Sundays are a day for attending church in the Christian-majority state.
Officer Vyas also said that civil society organisations and political parties welcomed the decision of the Election Commission of India deferring the date of counting of votes from December 3 (Sunday) to December 4 (Monday) in Mizoram.(UNI)<>