EC warms up for D-day. The Election Commission on Sunday conducted mock counting to prepare ground to post round-wise results on its website: www.eci.gov.in

The Election Commission on Sunday conducted mock counting to prepare ground to post round-wise results on its website: www.eci.gov.in. First round results are likely to be out by 9.30 am. The counting process will be completed within four hours. In case, the number of candidates are more, it will be completed within seven hours.

Chief electoral officer I V Subba Rao attended the mock counting arranged at Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy stadium, Yousufguda.

Speaking to the media, Subba Rao said mock counting was being held statewide at 160 counting centres identified in 294 assembly constituencies. For the first time, the Election Commission would post round wise results online on its website.

On May 16, counting would start at 8 am with postal ballot. After half-an-hour, electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be opened for counting. The counting for assembly and parliamentary constituencies would be held simultaneously.

“Election observers, who have been deputed for polling, will also be present during the counting. The results will be declared after every round after thoroughly checking them. Then, the returning officer (RO) will post the results on the EC website,” he said.

Arrangements have also been made at 160 counting centres to display the results, round wise, the CEO said.

“Nearly 25,000 staff have been deputed for counting statewide,” he said.

At each counting centre, 150 police personnel would be deployed.

“The Election Commission has taken serious note of persons who damaged the EVMs. Action will be taken against them. We will not spare anybody,” Subba Rao said.

The final phase of mock counting exercise would be held on May 10 and 11 statewide.

Earlier, GHMC zonal commissioner, Central Zone, K Bhaskar explained how results would be posted through online. He said the ECI has allotted a password to each returning officer (RO) to feed results round wise.

However, media persons were disappointed with the mock exercise as they expected election officials to actually show how EVM votes are counted. Instead, they were treated to how results would be posted on the ECI website.