Hyderabad: The Hyderabad District Election Authority is gearing up for the counting day set for December 3. A squad of 1,100 staff members will be deployed at the 15 distribution, reception, and counting (DRC) centres across the city.
A Hyderabad election authority official said, "To tally votes in the 15 Assembly segments, we've ensured an ample number of tables, each dedicated to counting 500 votes." Each table will have a supervisor, a counting assistant, and micro observers. Also, a media centre will be set up at each DRC centre.
The Hyderabad district electoral officer (DEO), Ronald Rose, has instructed the counting staff to report to the DRC centres by 5 am, with their initial task being the commencement of counting postal ballots. State election authorities clarified that agents won't physically access the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Nonetheless, they will have a clear view of the monitor and EVM display panel, enabling them to record the contents.
Candidates and agents will sit at the same table, closely observing the counting proceedings. Each counting centre will have a separate video camera/webcam to record the EVM display panel. Currently, the EVMs are securely stored at the 15 DRC centres under strict police surveillance.
