AP: What's the status on Postal ballot counting?
The election commission has issued some guidelines regarding the counting of postal ballot votes to be held on june 4. The election commission said that the counting of votes for the lok sabha elections and the counting of the votes of various state assemblies will start on june 4 at 8 am. In this context, the ec has given key instructions to the officials on the procedures to be followed for the counting of votes from electronic voting machines, VVPATs and postal ballots in connection with the lok sabha elections as well as the state elections. district election Officers, RO (Returning Officers), observers at counting centers and surrounding counting arrangements have been directed to strictly implement the instructions.
Similarly, if ECI orders are pending on adjourned poll in any polling station, the counting of votes for that constituency should not be started. The RO should carefully read the provisions of Section 128 of the Representation of the people Act, 1951 and Rule 54 of the election Rules, 1961, especially regarding the secrecy of the vote. As per Rule 60 (Conduct of elections Rules) of 1961, counting should continue without any interruption. If there are unauthorized persons in the counting hall, they should be handed over to the police unconditionally. And as per Rule 53(4), it should be noted that the RO has the power to order out of the counting center if any person violates the lawful orders of the Returning Officer.
According to Rule 54A (Conduct of elections Rules) of 1961, the counting of postal ballot papers should first start at the RO table. RO should ensure that there is no inordinate delay in scrutiny of declarations by AROs, Accounting Supervisors. All cases where the postal ballot is rejected due to errors in the declaration in Form-13A will have to be re-verified by the Returning Officer before being included in the original rejected category. The scrutineer will closely monitor the process of counting of votes through postal ballot especially the scrutiny of declaration in Form 13A. While submitting the report on counting after declaration of results, the Observer shall include in it the procedure followed for postal ballot counting.
Similarly, if ECI orders are pending on adjourned poll in any polling station, the counting of votes for that constituency should not be started. The RO should carefully read the provisions of Section 128 of the Representation of the people Act, 1951 and Rule 54 of the election Rules, 1961, especially regarding the secrecy of the vote. As per Rule 60 (Conduct of elections Rules) of 1961, counting should continue without any interruption. If there are unauthorized persons in the counting hall, they should be handed over to the police unconditionally. And as per Rule 53(4), it should be noted that the RO has the power to order out of the counting center if any person violates the lawful orders of the Returning Officer.
According to Rule 54A (Conduct of elections Rules) of 1961, the counting of postal ballot papers should first start at the RO table. RO should ensure that there is no inordinate delay in scrutiny of declarations by AROs, Accounting Supervisors. All cases where the postal ballot is rejected due to errors in the declaration in Form-13A will have to be re-verified by the Returning Officer before being included in the original rejected category. The scrutineer will closely monitor the process of counting of votes through postal ballot especially the scrutiny of declaration in Form 13A. While submitting the report on counting after declaration of results, the Observer shall include in it the procedure followed for postal ballot counting.