Mangaluru: The voting for 25 MLC seats in the state was conducted on Sunday December 27, and the counting of the same will be held on Wednesday December 30 at Victoria Girls PU College, Ladyhill here.
Elaborating the counting process, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim on Monday December 28, informed that the counting process will begin at 8 am. Only candidates or their agents, counting and election agents will be allowed inside the counting hall. Strong rooms where the ballot boxes have been kept will be opened at 7.30 am. No mobile phones or any other electronic gadgets or arms will be allowed.
As many as 29 rounds of initial counting will be held. Ballot papers will be spread across 14 tables in 261 bundles, with each bundle comprising 25 ballot papers. While 29 ballot boxes will be assigned for counting on 14 tables, 30 boxes carrying ballot papers will be assigned to the rest four tables.
The first round of counting will only be bundling of ballot papers and this process is expected to be completed by 11 am.
A 15 minute tea-break will be given which will be followed by the second round, which will mark the actual counting, the DC said.
The counted ballot papers will be classified and put in 11 trays – eight for the candidates, one for NOTA, one for rejected ballot papers and one for doubtful votes. The final call on these doubtful votes will be taken either by the Returning Officer i.e. the DC or the Assistant Returning Officer.
The final result is expected to be out by 6 pm.
The DC informed that parking for vehicles has been arranged at Karavali Grounds. Passes will be issued to the respective individuals which will gain them access to the counting premises.
ADC Kumar and representatives of MLC candidates were present.
