All arrangements are set for the assembly election vote counting in Rajasthan. Amidst a three-tier security system, counting across 2552 tables over 4180 rounds will ensue. The entire process will be recorded and closely monitored via CCTV. According to the state's Chief Electoral Officer, Praveen Gupta, duties have been assigned to 1121 Assistant Returning Officers across 36 counting centers for 199 constituencies. The vote counting at each center will be updated periodically on designated TV screens.
Praveen Gupta, CEO of Rajasthan, informs that vote counting for the state's 199 assembly constituencies will commence on the 3rd of December at 8 AM in 36 centers spread across 33 district headquarters. In cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Nagaur, there will be two centers each, while the remaining 30 electoral districts will have one center each. Strict adherence to security measures at counting centers has been instructed to all district election officers, police commissioners, and superintendents. Additionally, the day of counting has been declared a dry day.
Authorized individuals with passes only will be allowed entry into the highly secured counting locations. Every assembly constituency will have separate halls for vote counting, with arrangements made for tables according to the commission's instructions for counting postal ballots and EVMs. Observers have been appointed for the vote counting of all constituencies, having already arrived in the districts. The second and third randomization of the votes will take place in the presence of observers.
A Grand Total of 4180 Rounds for EVM Counting
The EVM counting tables will be staffed with counting supervisors, assistants, a micro observer, and other personnel. Likewise, postal ballot counting tables will see a similar lineup of officials. Micro observers will be central government employees. The state has prepared 2552 tables for counting, and a total of 4180 rounds are scheduled. The highest number of 34 rounds will be for Shiv constituency, and the fewest number of 14 rounds will be for Ajmer South constituency.
Each assembly constituency's EVM/postal ballot tables will have candidates' counting agents present, arranged by (1) recognized national political parties, (2) recognized state parties from other states that have been allotted election symbols for that constituency, (3) registered unrecognized parties, (4) independent candidates.
Safe Transport of Machines to the Counting Halls
The Chief Electoral Officer has revealed that a designated path from the strong rooms to the counting halls ensures secure transport of machines, covered by CCTV. Except for election observers, no one is permitted to bring mobile phones into the counting halls. Only returning officers, assistant returning officers, and supervisors linked to ETPBMS may bring mobile phones for OTP verification required to access the ETPBMS system, after which phones must be switched off and handed over to observers, returning officers, or their assistants.
Counting Commences at 8 AM Sharp
Vote counting will start at 8 AM sharp in district headquarters, constituency-wise, beginning with postal ballots. Half an hour after postal ballot counting begins, EVM counting will start at 8:30 AM. The results for postal ballots will be announced as soon as the counting is completed for each constituency, round by round, following regulatory declarations. Information will also be relayed to the media in the media center, with coordination by the district public relations officer.
First-time Home Voting Facility
Praveen Gupta has announced a new home voting facility for senior citizens over 80 years of age and voters with over 40% disability. This facility, introduced for the first time in these elections, saw applications from 50,730 elderly and 11,798 disabled voters across the state, with a follow-up count of 61,618 living voters, including 49,366 elderly and 11,656 disabled voters opting to vote from home, totalling nearly 99%. Additionally, 6,694 voters associated with essential services filled Form 12-D, with 4,427 casting their vote via postal ballot, and 3,71,235 voting personnel using postal ballots at facilitation centers. The number of service voters is 1,42,219, with 27,298 postal ballots received by December 1st.
