Counting of Votes(Rule-105) Counting of Votes(Rule-105)

Communication to Candidates & Communication to Candidates & Recognized Political PartiesRecognized Political Parties

Venue of Storage of polled ballot boxes & Venue of Storage of polled ballot boxes & other records and materials.other records and materials. Venue, date & time for counting.Venue, date & time for counting. To be communicated To be communicated at least seven daysat least seven days ahead of date of poll.ahead of date of poll.

Strong Room(Rule-99)Strong Room(Rule-99)

To keep : To keep :

a) Polled ballot boxes.a) Polled ballot boxes.

b) Ballot paper a/c.b) Ballot paper a/c.

c) Paper seal a/c.c) Paper seal a/c.

d) Presiding officer’s diary/declaration.d) Presiding officer’s diary/declaration.

e) Any other paper considered e) Any other paper considered necessary.necessary.

There may be one or three rooms used as There may be one or three rooms used as strong room(s).strong room(s).

To be close to counting hall and secured.To be close to counting hall and secured.

If all boxes are kept in one room the boxes If all boxes are kept in one room the boxes are to be kept tire wise as per sequence of are to be kept tire wise as per sequence of counting for different tiers.counting for different tiers.

Sequential arrangement should be such Sequential arrangement should be such that boxes may be brought out easily in that boxes may be brought out easily in the order of a) GP b) PS c) ZP.the order of a) GP b) PS c) ZP.

Clear record of boxes kept in strong room to Clear record of boxes kept in strong room to be maintained.be maintained.

Strong room shall remain under lock & key Strong room shall remain under lock & key and sealed after all boxes and records are and sealed after all boxes and records are in. in.

Candidates /Election agents may put their Candidates /Election agents may put their seal also.seal also.

Constant vigil of security guard.Constant vigil of security guard. Opening & maintaining logbook for noting Opening & maintaining logbook for noting

time &reason for opening and closing.time &reason for opening and closing. Candidate to be given advance intimation Candidate to be given advance intimation

before opening.before opening. Each time after closing strong room Each time after closing strong room

candidates present may put their seal again.candidates present may put their seal again.

Returning officer can have a separate strong Returning officer can have a separate strong room for ballot boxes in case of repoll if room for ballot boxes in case of repoll if convenient.convenient.

One competent officer to be deployed as in-One competent officer to be deployed as in-charge for each of the strong rooms with the charge for each of the strong rooms with the functions:functions:

a)To place boxes and records in proper order. a)To place boxes and records in proper order. b) monitor movement of boxes to the counting b) monitor movement of boxes to the counting hall so that no wrong box goes to any hall so that no wrong box goes to any counting table.counting table.

Sequence of counting(Rule-87)

• Counting shall be continuous and tier wise with the following order:

1.Gram Panchayat. 2. Panchayat Samiti. 3. Zilla Parishad.• For each tier before counting votes of the

polled ballot boxes ED votes should be taken up for counting.

• The counting table shall receive polled box of a prefixed polling station for G.P. first, P.S, Second and Z.P. next.

• Polling station allotted to a particular counting table to be worked out earlier and declared in the hall (Such earmarking may be displayed in the hall also).

• One copy of such schedule to be kept with PRO & one with strong room in charge and,

• also to be pasted on the counting table for its portion only.

Counting hall(Rule-100)Counting hall(Rule-100)

To be in close proximity of strong room as far as possible under the To be in close proximity of strong room as far as possible under the same roof.same roof.

If not possible under the same roof, well protected covered passage If not possible under the same roof, well protected covered passage way to be erected for movement of polled boxes.way to be erected for movement of polled boxes.

Maximum no of table in the hall will be 18 & minimum 08.Maximum no of table in the hall will be 18 & minimum 08.

If variation in no of tables on the higher/lower side is If variation in no of tables on the higher/lower side is unavoidable ,permission of SEC is required.unavoidable ,permission of SEC is required.

Counting tables to be so arranged that Counting tables to be so arranged that counting may be completed in two rounds and counting may be completed in two rounds and under no circumstances beyond three rounds.under no circumstances beyond three rounds.

Counting personnel for each table - one Counting personnel for each table - one counting officer, two counting assistants.counting officer, two counting assistants.

Counting personnel should preferably be Counting personnel should preferably be Govt.employees in case of scarcity, school Govt.employees in case of scarcity, school teacher and semi Govt. officers may be teacher and semi Govt. officers may be drafted as drafted as counting assistant onlycounting assistant only. .

10%reserved counting personnel will be 10%reserved counting personnel will be advisable.advisable.

A person may be appointed as A person may be appointed as counting officer who has eligibility counting officer who has eligibility of being presiding officer.of being presiding officer.

Eligibility for counting assistant Eligibility for counting assistant will be same as that of first polling will be same as that of first polling & second polling officer.& second polling officer.

Their should be 6 feet high Their should be 6 feet high chicken meshwork or bamboo chicken meshwork or bamboo barricade separating counting barricade separating counting table and counting agents.table and counting agents.

In each counting hall there will be In each counting hall there will be need for one APRO supported by 2/3 need for one APRO supported by 2/3 assistants & a few Gr-D staff. assistants & a few Gr-D staff. It is necessary to be careful that It is necessary to be careful that ballot paper for two tiers do not get ballot paper for two tiers do not get mixed up at any stage.mixed up at any stage.The hall in charge (P.R.O/A.P.R.O) The hall in charge (P.R.O/A.P.R.O) shall always regulate flow of boxes to shall always regulate flow of boxes to the hall and monitor as well as plan the hall and monitor as well as plan and supervise supply of boxes to the and supervise supply of boxes to the tables at every stage. tables at every stage.

• Any question of doubt about ballot papers shall be settled at the counting table itself.

• If necessaryP. R.O./A.P.R.O will go down to the counting table-no doubtful ballot papers should go to PRO’s table.

Arrangement at counting hall & Arrangement at counting hall & commencement of countingcommencement of counting

(Rule-100-103)(Rule-100-103)Every counting hall & every table shall be Every counting hall & every table shall be serially numbered and prominently serially numbered and prominently displayed at the entrance of the hall and displayed at the entrance of the hall and on either side of the table.on either side of the table.

Sequence of ballot boxes (polling station) Sequence of ballot boxes (polling station) tier wise, as earmarked for a particular tier wise, as earmarked for a particular table is to be pasted on the table also. table is to be pasted on the table also.

Procedure for counting, result Procedure for counting, result sheet & certificates of sheet & certificates of election(Rule103-107)election(Rule103-107)

• Before commencement of counting P.R.O./A.P.R.O. shall read out and explain the provisions of Rule-102/Sec-108 in the hall.

G.P counting:• The Counting Officer shall after

completion of counting and preparation of result sheet in Form-21 sign the sheet at the table after which except for the wining candidate, all other candidates shall be asked to disperse.

The Counting Officer shall issue the The Counting Officer shall issue the Certificates of Election to the wining Certificates of Election to the wining candidates of the Gram Panchayat seat candidates of the Gram Panchayat seat concerned after obtaining concerned after obtaining acknowledgement of receipt.acknowledgement of receipt.

The receipt copy and the copy of the result The receipt copy and the copy of the result sheet along with the candidate-wise sheet along with the candidate-wise bundles of ballot papers and bundle of bundles of ballot papers and bundle of rejected ballot papers, if any ,shall be rejected ballot papers, if any ,shall be immediately taken to the table of the immediately taken to the table of the Retuning Officer in the hall. Retuning Officer in the hall.

For Panchayat Samiti constituenciesFor Panchayat Samiti constituencies, , the Counting officer after preparing the Counting officer after preparing the counting sheets shall take thethe counting sheets shall take the signed counting sheet along with signed counting sheet along with bundles of candidate- wise ballot bundles of candidate- wise ballot papers and the bundle of defective papers and the bundle of defective ballot papers if any, to the Returning ballot papers if any, to the Returning officer/ Assistant Returning officer in officer/ Assistant Returning officer in the hall. If there is any demand for the hall. If there is any demand for re-count, the demand may be settled re-count, the demand may be settled according to rules and procedure. according to rules and procedure.

The Assistant Returning officer –in-charge shall The Assistant Returning officer –in-charge shall prepare the result sheet in Form-23 after prepare the result sheet in Form-23 after checking the candidate wise total votes secured checking the candidate wise total votes secured and the bundles of ballot papers received.and the bundles of ballot papers received.

The result sheet drawn up and signed by the The result sheet drawn up and signed by the Counting Officer or Assistant Returning officer Counting Officer or Assistant Returning officer shall now be sent to the Returning officer present shall now be sent to the Returning officer present within counting venue for declaration of the within counting venue for declaration of the result.result.

Returning officer shall now declare the result and Returning officer shall now declare the result and grant the certificate of election after obtaining grant the certificate of election after obtaining receipted acknowledgement .receipted acknowledgement .

Counting procedure in auxiliary Counting procedure in auxiliary boothsbooths

Counting for main /original booths and Counting for main /original booths and auxiliary booth will be done in the same auxiliary booth will be done in the same round and in the same room at adjacent round and in the same room at adjacent tables.tables.

supervisor of the main table will prepare a supervisor of the main table will prepare a consolidated result sheet and declare consolidated result sheet and declare result for GP and send to the APRO in result for GP and send to the APRO in charge for sealing etc & for further course charge for sealing etc & for further course of action in respect of PSof action in respect of PS..

• In case of ZP constituency the counting officer main table shall take the signed counting sheet along with the counted ballot paper bundles to the ARO’s table. The PRO/APRO in charge shall draw up result sheet in Form-23 consulting all such counting sheets for a ZP constituency. The result sheet shall be signed by BDO and sent to SDO for declaration of result and issuing certificate of election.

Counting of ED votes(Rule-86-Counting of ED votes(Rule-86-103)103)

Polled ED ballot papers shall not repeat not Polled ED ballot papers shall not repeat not be sent to the polling station. Those will be be sent to the polling station. Those will be retained by the Returning officer for opening retained by the Returning officer for opening on the day of counting on 13on the day of counting on 13thth July,2013. July,2013.

A hall wise and constituency wise list A hall wise and constituency wise list showing numbers of E.D. votes shall be showing numbers of E.D. votes shall be prepared before hand for each tier prepared before hand for each tier separately. Copies of such list shall be hung separately. Copies of such list shall be hung up by the side of the entrance of hall just up by the side of the entrance of hall just before counting of such constituencies are before counting of such constituencies are taken in the hall.taken in the hall.

E.D votes for the G P constituencies E.D votes for the G P constituencies shall be supplied to the counting shall be supplied to the counting table for counting before opening the table for counting before opening the polled ballot box or boxes.polled ballot box or boxes.

For P S and Z P candidates also, the For P S and Z P candidates also, the E.D. votes shall be counted by the E.D. votes shall be counted by the PRO/APRO at the table before PRO/APRO at the table before commencement of counting of votes commencement of counting of votes in the polled ballot boxes in the polled ballot boxes

Procedure for double sheeted Procedure for double sheeted constituency (Rule-105 4(B),5A)constituency (Rule-105 4(B),5A)

In case of double member Gram In case of double member Gram Panchayat constituency when the votes Panchayat constituency when the votes are recorded in the ballot papers in Form are recorded in the ballot papers in Form 13(2), there may be occasions when the 13(2), there may be occasions when the ballot paper is rejected for one seat and ballot paper is rejected for one seat and found valid for another one; such ballot found valid for another one; such ballot papers shall be treated papers shall be treated as partly valid as partly valid ballot papersballot papers and shall be made into a and shall be made into a separate bundle.separate bundle.

All the valid and partly valid ballot papers All the valid and partly valid ballot papers shall be sorted candidatewise and made shall be sorted candidatewise and made into convenient bundles and there after into convenient bundles and there after the counting officer shall record the votes the counting officer shall record the votes of each candidates in of each candidates in Form 19A by putting Form 19A by putting 1(one) mark representing one vote in the 1(one) mark representing one vote in the relevant column of the candidate in a relevant column of the candidate in a continuous rowcontinuous row and and On completion of the exercise in respect On completion of the exercise in respect of all the ballot papers, shall count total of all the ballot papers, shall count total votes secured by each candidate, fill in all votes secured by each candidate, fill in all other column and sign the form.other column and sign the form.in case of a double member constituency, in case of a double member constituency, ballot papers shall be kept in common ballot papers shall be kept in common bundles with rejected & partly valid ballot bundles with rejected & partly valid ballot papers made into separate bundles.papers made into separate bundles.

Administrative arrangement

• Entry card to be issued by the R O/ ARO authorized. Their specimen signatures should be made available to the officer or officers in charge of security.

• Cards for the PRO/APRO /Counting Officer /Counting Asst/other officers engaged should be distinctly different from the cards for candidates and their agents.

It is convenient to issue cards of different It is convenient to issue cards of different colours for different phases /tiers for colours for different phases /tiers for counting agents. the cards shall bear hall counting agents. the cards shall bear hall no and table no clearly specified.no and table no clearly specified.

Time for admission into counting venue Time for admission into counting venue may also be printed for each tier may also be printed for each tier separately .separately .

No of counting agents allowed (No of counting agents allowed (pl see no pl see no 1255 dt 19-04-08 of SEC also1255 dt 19-04-08 of SEC also)-:)-:

a) For G.P candidate- one counting agent if a) For G.P candidate- one counting agent if election agent not appointed but only one election agent not appointed but only one of them shall remain present at the of them shall remain present at the counting table.counting table.

B) P S candidate -one counting agent for B) P S candidate -one counting agent for each table ,there shall be no counting each table ,there shall be no counting agents for PROs/APROs table.agents for PROs/APROs table.

C) Z P candidate- one counting agent for C) Z P candidate- one counting agent for each counting table and one for each counting table and one for PROs/APROs table in each hall assigned. PROs/APROs table in each hall assigned. Candidate and his election agent will seat Candidate and his election agent will seat at the PROs/APROs table and shall not at the PROs/APROs table and shall not move around in the hall or sit along with move around in the hall or sit along with his counting agent at any table.his counting agent at any table.

Opening of counting hall &strong room-Opening of counting hall &strong room-

one and half hours before the counting starts. The one and half hours before the counting starts. The candidates shall be intimated to remain present at the candidates shall be intimated to remain present at the pre-appointed hour. The seals of the locks shall be pre-appointed hour. The seals of the locks shall be broken and the doors opened by the RO in broken and the doors opened by the RO in presencepresence of of the candidates attending at the appointed hour.the candidates attending at the appointed hour.

Entries to the counting premises shall be regulated by Entries to the counting premises shall be regulated by the security personnel under the direction of the the security personnel under the direction of the Returning Officer .Returning Officer .

No one shall also be allowed to enter the premises until No one shall also be allowed to enter the premises until a little before the appointed time.a little before the appointed time.

Any unusual gathering in or around the premises or just Any unusual gathering in or around the premises or just outside the gate should not be allowed.outside the gate should not be allowed.