Bhubaneswar: As the counting of votes in Odisha will clock a longer duration than its national counterparts as the state went to Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, the Election Commission of India has geared up with all exigency arrangements at the counting halls in the state for smooth conduct of the process.
For the first time, all the counting halls in the state will have air-conditioners (ACs) to beat the May heat and humidity. Most parts of Odisha are reeling under a heat wave, and forecasts predict the heat wave extending to coastal areas on the counting day.
A two-day training session for the Returning Officers (ROs) began here on Monday. The training session aimed imparting the ROs about the counting procedures and the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) regarding VVPAT counting in the state. On day one, ROs from 14 districts took part and the ROs of remaining district will join the training session on Tuesday, informed CEO, Odisha, Surendra Kumar.
“The counting process will take more time in Odisha as the state went for simultaneous polls —Parliament and Assembly. When in other states counting will take place on 14 tables, in Odisha there will be 7 tables for Lok Sabha and 7 for Assembly polls,” explained Mr Kumar.
The CEO added that since for the first time VVPATs are to be counted sequentially in the state, which is a time consuming process.
“As per recent Apex court directive, VVPAT slips of five EVMs in every constituency should be counted. The EVMs, whose VVPAT will be counted, will be selected via a transparent lottery system,” Mr Kumar said.
He added that a minimum of 45 minutes is required to complete the process of such sequential counting of VVPATs.
