The Assam State Election Commission has completed all preparations for the May 4 vote counting for the Assembly elections in 40 counting centres across 35 districts of the state.
Addressing the media in Guwahati on Wednesday, Assam chief electoral officer (CEO) Anurag Goel said that the counting of votes would begin at 8am on May 4 while the final results would be declared by late evening.
The CEO said Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Jorhat districts would have two counting centres each, while Nagaon will have three counting centres.
Goel informed that 126 observers — one IAS officer for each constituency — have been appointed.
“Each counting table will have a designated counting supervisor. Altogether, 5,981 counting officials and 2,348 micro-observers will be deployed during the exercise,” he said.
On security arrangements, the CEO said electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been kept under strict surveillance in strong rooms across the districts with a three-tier deployment protocol.
“The strong rooms under CCTV surveillance and are being guarded by 25 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in the innermost cordon. There will adequate state armed police personnel deployed in the second cordon apart from 800 unarmed police in strong room locations,” he informed.
“Candidates’ agents are also present at EVM storage facilities to monitor the activities,” Goel said.
Besides, two companies of CRPF are engaged in static duty; 93 companies of Assam state armed police already deployed in districts apart from 85 assault groups (AGs)/commandos kept ready.
According to the chief electoral officer, the state recorded its highest voter turnout among the last five Assembly elections.
Assam Polls: State Election Dept Gears Up For Vote Counting Day
