Admn gears up for counting of votes

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 21

Preparations are on at the nine counting centres designated for counting of votes polled on May 19. The counting will commence on May 23 and the district administration officials are conducting meetings with the staff and presiding officials to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day.

“All nine counting centers have been provided three tier security with 24X7 CCTV surveillance and the counting staff as well as candidates will be updated through wireless system to ensure that no one except the designated officials touch or handle EVMs. The staff have been asked to report on the D-Day at 6 in the morning and the food and basic amenities will be provided to them by the administration,” said Himanshu Aggarwal, ADC, Amritsar.

He said the security had been beefed up according to the protocol followed. “There will be three-layered security, with the paramilitary forces deployed to keep the inner most area safe where the EVMs will be kept. Moreover, the warehouse where the EVMs have been kept have also been secured and everything has been checked in place.”

Himanshu also cleared the air on the rumours and reports of EVM tampering. ‘There is no way one can hack or tamper with the EVMs.”