The counting of votes polled for the MLC elections is a Herculian task. It a jumbo ballot with a large number of candidates .. and then a record level of registered polling. The manner in which the graduate MLC elections were conducted, has now become a challenge to the counting of votes. More than three and a half lakh votes in each constituency should be counted in order of preference. In this context, it is clear that the counting process is likely to be a lengthy process.
Record turnout was recorded in the graduate MLC elections. The average turnout in the two constituencies was 71.83 per cent, officials said. The turnout was almost 25 per cent higher than in the past.
In Nalgonda-Warangal-Khammam constituency, 3,86,320 votes were polled with 76.41 per cent polling. Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar constituency recorded 67.26 per cent polling. 3,57,354 voters exercised their right to vote. Compared to the last election .. The polling percentage for the current election has increased by 30 percent. As a result, the counting of votes will be a challenge for the authorities.
The votes cast in the order of priority in the MLC elections are to be counted. The correct ones are first identified in the polled votes. Votes that are against the rules will be rejected. All ballot papers with valid votes are bundled and placed at the returning officer’s table. After that the counting of votes will be carried out by candidates.
Considering the votes polled at present, the counting of the first preference votes will be completed in 7 rounds.
It is estimated that it will take a long time to identify the irregular votes in the over three and a half lakh polls and tie them up in bundles of 25 per cent. There are 93 candidates in one constituency and 71 in another.
As a result the removal process of the candidates will have to be undertaken. Those with the lowest number of votes are eliminated in ascending order. The second preference vote received from the votes cast for them is transferred to the other candidates. Continue the process until you get half of the votes so polled.
At each table in the counting center is a counting supervisor, two assistants and a micro-observer. Arrangements are being made to have staff in all 3 shifts in view of the continuous lengthy counting. In addition, another 20 percent of the staff is being made available.
Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar constituency will have 806 personnel for counting votes and Nalgonda-Warangal-Khammam constituency will have 800 personnel for counting votes.
