EC issues guidelines on arrangements for tomorrow's counting in five states

The Election Commission has issued guidelines on security arrangements for counting of votes for Assembly elections Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. It has prohibited the entry of mobile phones inside the counting halls. The Commission has asked for placing of three-tier cordoning system at all the counting premises to prevent the entry of any unauthorised persons. Polling for state Assembly elections of 5 states have recently concluded.

As part of the three-tier security arrangements, adequate local police force should be stationed at first point of entry to check the identity of the persons seeking entry in the counting premises. A senior Magistrate will be posted at the entrance to control the crowd and regulate the



entry.

Election commission has said, the 100-metre area around a counting premise or campus should be demarcated as pedestrian zone and no vehicles shall be allowed within this perimeter. Additional CCTV camera will be installed at such locations from where the carrying of EVMs from strong rooms to the counting hall can be recorded for effective monitoring. No camera, still or video of the media except the official video camera for recording the entire counting process is allowed inside any counting hall.

The strong rooms should have only one entry point and double lock system. Other entry points of the strong rooms including windows should be properly sealed, so that no one can have access inside the rooms.