ECI issued new instructions about counting
Bhopal: Election Commission of India has issued instructions to concerning states to ensure more transparency. According to the commission, presently, the signature/T.I. of all counting agents present inside the counting h all is obtained on Part-II of Form 17C after each round of counting by the Counting Supervisor of each table. Now the commission has directed that Part-II of Form 17C should be prepared in duplicate and both copies should be got signed from counting agents. One copy of the Part-II of Form 17C should be handed over to RO/ARO for computing round-wise tally of votes.
According to the commission, the other copy of the Part-II will be collected from each table by an official specially designated by the RO. He will make photocopies for distribution among the counting agents present at respective counting tables for their record and verification. The starting of the next round of counting need not wait till distribution of these copies is complete. This can go on simultaneously. Therefore, necessary arrangements for photocopying shall be made in each counting hall.
It has been said in the directives that the original second copy should be retruned to the counting supervisor of the respective table. They will keep the copy of each round of EVM counting and at the end of the counting put them in an envelop superscribed “Duplicate copy of the result of counting in Part-II of Form 17C”, mention the table number, total number of rounds counted and name of the counting supervisor and hand over the envelope personally to the RO/ARO after completion of counting. This packet should be sealed and kept separately by the RO along with other documents. The commission has direct to bring this to the notice of the ROs/AROs and supervisors.
