46 centers in 38 districts to tally results of assembly elections

Patna: Following the completion of polling on Tuesday, the counting of votes will take place at 46 counting centres across 38 districts — three in Saharsa (highest in the state), two each in six districts and one centre each in rest 31 — on Nov 14, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).After the second phase of the assembly elections, the EVMs and VVPATs from 45,399 polling stations have been secured under a double-lock system at designated strongrooms across the state, the ECI said in a statement on Wednesday.The process, marked by transparency, included videography, and was carried out in the presence of contesting candidates, election agents and central observers, it added.According to the data provided by the EC, Gaya, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Siwan, Purnia and East Champaran have two counting centres each, whereas Saharsa with just four assembly constituencies has three.As per the commission’s security and storage protocol, a three-tier security arrangement has been made. A two-tier security by armed force has been arranged for the strongrooms, in which the responsibility of the inner part has been given to the Central Armed Police Force. Additionally, district police have been deployed for the external security arrangements of the premises.In addition, 24-hour CCTV camera surveillance and other provisions have been ensured.

The electronic viting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable audit trails (VVPATs) found defective during the mock poll have been kept under the prescribed security arrangements in another identified strongroom, as per the directions of the commission.All contesting candidates have been informed in writing that they can appoint their representatives to monitor the security arrangements of the strongrooms. They have been allowed to stay outside the inner perimeter area of security. The CCTV display of the strongroom has also been made available for the candidates and representatives. The polled EVM strongroom will be opened in the presence of the candidates, and election agents and central observers, with videography, before the counting process is carried out.