THANJAVUR: Counting of votes for Thanjavur Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies (by-election) will begin at Kundavai Nachiyar Government Arts College for women at 8 am on May 23, Thursday, said A. Annadurai, Thanjavur district collector and returning officer for Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency here on Sunday.
Postal ballots will be counted first. Votes for Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency will begin at new building while for assembly constituency at main block of the college.
“With respect to Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency, votes for Thanjavur and Thiruvaiyaru assembly segments will be done in the first floor of the new building while for Orathanadu and Mannargudi assembly constituencies will be held in the second floor and for Peravurani and Pattukottai assembly constituencies in the third floor.
Electronically Transmitted Postal ballots will be counted separately. Fourteen tables have been arranged for each assembly segment. Returning officer and general observer will sit in the first floor. Maximum of 22 rounds will be counted for Thiruvaiyaru assembly segment and minimum of 19 rounds for Peravurani assembly segment. Three-tier security has been provided at the counting centre and 100 surveillance cameras have been installed,” the collector said.
To help media and press persons, a media centre will function at the counting centre. Internet, computer and Television facilities will be available at the media centre. Media persons can take cellular phones up to media centre. Cellular phones are not allowed in the counting halls.
“After counting of votes in EVMs, vote receipts in VVPATs from four booths selected randomly from each assembly segment will be counted. Votes in the VVPATS and EVMs in the respective booths should tally. If there is a difference, votes in VVPATs will be taken as final,” the collector said.
“Counting of votes will be governed by section 128 of People’s Representation Act and any violation of the section by anyone in the counting centres will attract penal action,” the collector warned.
