Counting of votes to begin after randomization of staff

By Japan K Pathak, Ahmedabad, 19 December 2012

Counting for Gujarat elections will kick off on Thursday morning at 8.00 am, however the counting process staff will reach counting centers as early as at 6.00 am for randomization process. To make sure that the counting process is free and fair, the Election Commission practices randomization process.

At 6.00 am all counting assistants, counting supervisors and micro observers will reach returning officer’s place and will take their positions.

They will get sealed covered randomization orders. As per the orders, their duty place(the table number and the assembly seat) will interchange. They will then go to counting hall by 6.30 am. Randomization process is practiced as per the direction of the election commission of India. Any counting assistant or counting supervisor never knows he/she will be working for which table of which seat.

At 8.00 am the election officials will unseal strong rooms in presence of observers and candidates under constant videography.

EVMs will be then brought to counting tables, and actual counting of EVM votes will begin only after 8.30 am.