Bhubaneswar: As per the direction of the Election Commission of India, the vote counting of Tirtol and Balasore Sadar by-polls will start from November 10 amid tight security and COVID-19 restrictions.
The counting will be conducted at Balasore Collectorate office for the Balasore Sadar by-poll and for the Tirtol by-poll, the counting will commence at the SVM College in Jagatsinghpur district.
The counting will start from 8:30 am in both the districts, informed Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sushil Lohani.
Addressing a press conference, the CEO said, “There will be three counting halls for counting and each room will have seven tables instead of 14 tables. Three AROs will be deployed for Balasore counting whereas two AROs have been assigned for Tirtol by-poll. The postal ballots will be counted first and the votes sealed in the EVMs will be counted from 8.30 onwards.”
The officials who will count the votes by wearing face masks and face shields. Sanitisers will be provided at the counting rooms so that the officers can use these during their need.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, media persons are requested to divide themselves in small groups to cover the vote counting details.
Notably, the by-elections to Balasore and Tirtol Assembly seats were conducted November 3.
PNN