Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by Electronic Voting Machines, with 14 machines taken up at each centre. VVPAT slips will be counted in five randomly selected booths per constituency, and in case of any discrepancy, VVPAT slips will be considered final
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All arrangements are in place for counting in the 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala on May 4.
The process will start at 8 a.m., with early trends expected within a couple of hours and final results likely by afternoon or evening. Counting will take place at 140 centres across 43 locations, with 15,465 personnel deployed, including 140 Returning Officers and 4,208 micro-observers.
Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by Electronic Voting Machines, with 14 machines taken up at each centre. VVPAT slips will be counted in five randomly selected booths per constituency, and in case of any discrepancy, VVPAT slips will be considered final.
The ECI has issued strict guidelines for those in counting halls: counting agents must wear ID cards and submit Form 18 to the returning officer at least one hour before counting begins. Compliance with Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, is mandatory, and no one is allowed to touch EVMs.
Union and state ministers cannot serve as counting agents due to security protocols. Entry is restricted to authorised personnel with valid passes, and any disorderly conduct will result in immediate removal.
Important links for the counting day.
You can check the results on the official Election Commission of India website at https://www.eci.gov.in. For those on the go, the ECI offers a mobile app called Voter Helpline, available on Android and iOS, with a dedicated "Results" section that provides real-time updates synced with the ECI website.
The state-level portal of the CEO also provides detailed Kerala-specific data and updates at http://ceo.kerala.gov.in
