Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Know how votes are counted?
Counting of votes
The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections will take place on June 3. The counting of votes will start from 8 AM. Lets understand how votes are counted.
EVMs are sealed
As voting ends, the EVMs are sealed and stored in a strongroom in the parliamentary constituency. On the day of counting, the EVMs are taken out and unsealed in the presence of representatives from all participating political parties.
How voting begins
Vote counting begins with the returning officer (RO) counting votes through postal ballots. The counting of EVM votes begins 30 minutes after the postal ballot count. Only the control units of the EVMs are required during the counting.
Different constituencies
Since there are several assembly constituencies within a parliamentary constituency, vote counting for each assembly segment takes place in a single hall where 14 tables are set up and control units of EVMs are distributed among the tables.
Number of halls
The number of halls or tables can be increased if there is a large number of candidates. But it requires the electoral body’s prior permission. Counting can also take place in more than one location within the assembly constituency under the supervision of an ARO.
Checked before
Before counting, several checks are carried out to ensure that the control units are sealed, assigned correctly and functioning properly. In each round, votes registered in 14 EVMs are counted and the results are announced and written on a blackboard attached to each table before the next round of counting.
Counting supervisors
The votes are counted by counting supervisors and counting assistants on each table, who are appointed by the RO through a randomisation process. The control unit of the EVM contains a “Results” button to display the number of votes each candidate received. It also shows the total number of candidates per constituency.
Control unit
When the Results button is pressed, the EVM displays votes secured by candidates one by one, indicated by beep sounds. The control unit shows “End” after the candidates’ vote numbers are displayed.