Hyderabad Municipal Election Vote Counting Set for Friday with Elaborate Security
The State Election Commission has officially announced that the counting of votes for the 2nd Ordinary Elections to Municipalities and Municipal Corporations in Hyderabad will be conducted on Friday. The process is scheduled to begin promptly at 8 AM, initiating with the tallying of postal ballots before proceeding to the regular ballot papers, which will be counted ward by ward in a systematic manner.
Comprehensive Security and Monitoring Measures
In a recent release, the State Election Commission emphasized that all necessary security arrangements have been meticulously planned to ensure peace and order during the counting. Section 163 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) will be enforced in and around all counting centres, providing a legal framework to maintain decorum. Additionally, webcasting arrangements have been implemented in every counting centre and outside strong rooms across all districts, enabling real-time monitoring and transparency.
Access to the counting hall will be strictly restricted to authorized personnel only. This includes counting supervisors, counting assistants, candidates, their designated election agents, and counting agents. This measure aims to prevent any disruptions and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Detailed Step-by-Step Counting Procedure
The counting process follows a highly structured protocol to ensure accuracy and fairness. Ballot papers from each polling station are first bundled into sets of 25. Any leftover ballots that number fewer than 25 are grouped into a separate bundle, clearly labelled with the exact count for verification purposes.
Once all details are recorded, the bundles from every polling station within a ward are placed into a large drum and thoroughly mixed to randomize the selection. In each counting round, 1,000 ballots—equivalent to 40 bundles of 25 ballots each—are randomly drawn from the drum and distributed to individual counting tables.
At the tables, wooden trays with distinct compartments are utilized for organizing votes. Each compartment is designated for a specific contesting candidate, the NOTA (None of the Above) option, or doubtful votes that require further scrutiny.
Vote Validation and Tallying Process
Ballots are examined one by one to determine their validity. Each ballot is displayed to the counting agents present, ensuring transparency. Valid votes are then sorted candidate-wise and bundled into groups of 100 for efficient tallying. Similarly, doubtful votes and NOTA votes are also bundled in sets of 100. Any remaining votes that do not complete a full bundle of 100 are bundled separately with a slip noting the precise count.
The candidate-wise totals and the number of doubtful votes are meticulously recorded on the counting sheet and signed by the counting supervisor to certify the accuracy. This process continues iteratively until all ballots from the ward have been counted. Any doubtful votes accumulated round-wise and table-wise are subsequently reviewed and decided upon by the Returning Officer (RO).
Finalization and Declaration of Results
After each round, the votes for each candidate and the rejected votes are entered into the Final Result Sheet. The counting agents provide their signatures after every round to confirm the entries. Once the counting is fully completed and all due verifications are carried out, the results will be officially declared. Certificates will then be issued to the successful candidates, marking the conclusion of the electoral process for the Hyderabad municipal elections.
