This story is from May 23, 2019

EC okays 36 tables for Nizamabad to speed up vote counting

EC okays 36 tables for Nizamabad to speed up vote counting
Counting of votes will take place under tight security.
HYDERABAD: Result of the first round from Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat where CM’s daughter K Kavitha is seeking a re-election will be out after 10am. Counting of the first round is set to take more than two-and-a-half hours after the process begins at 8am.
District officials secured permission from the Election Commission to have a 36-table format for counting instead of the usual 18 tables so that each round of counting is speeded up.
This is in line with the massive number of candidates who had entered the fray. Over 180 candidates, including 175 farmers, are testing their luck from Nizamabad. Counting of postal ballots will also begin at 8am, sources said.
The counting will take place for eight rounds in case of Nizamabad urban, rural, Jagtial and Korutla assembly constituencies, while counting for Bodhan and Balkonda will happen in seven rounds and in six rounds for Armoor segment. “After finishing the counting, VVPATs will be counted after taking a draw of lots. For each assembly segment, one count will be made,” district collector MR Rao said. It would take five rounds to complete the entire process, he added.
Each table will have one counting supervisor, one assistant and a micro-observer. For five assembly segments, 219 counting supervisors, 237 assistants and 253 micro-observers were deployed. More than 800 staffers were deployed for counting. For counting of each assembly segment, two halls were arranged with 18 tables each.
Senior election officials told the candidates and counting agents to be available at the counting centres by 6am. “The EVMs will be opened in their presence,” an official said. The Election Commission has sent two observers — Guarava Dalia and Amarendra Barua — to supervise the counting.
Meanwhile, 175 turmeric and red jowar farmers, who had contested the elections as independent candidates, will also reach the counting centres. During the April 11 elections, 300 polling agents had worked for them. “Whatever is the outcome, we will continue to fight for our cause to get a turmeric board and MSP for our produce,” said a turmeric grower P Pravin.
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