Chennai, April 28 (IANS) The counting of votes polled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections held on April 23 will be undertaken on May 4 (Monday) across 62 counting centres in the state, election officials said.

The counting process will commence sharply at 8.00 a.m., beginning with postal ballots. After a gap of 30 minutes, at 8.30 a.m., counting of votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will begin.

Officials clarified that the final round of EVM counting will be taken up only after the completion of postal ballot counting. At each counting centre, separate arrangements have been made for postal ballots and EVM votes, with designated halls and counting tables for each.

To ensure smooth supervision, officers at the level of Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) have been appointed independently for both segments. Postal ballots will be counted at a ratio of one table for every 500 ballots.

Out of the 3.60 lakh officials deployed for election duty, as many as 2.88 lakh personnel (around 80 per cent) exercised their franchise through postal ballots after registering as voters. In addition, personnel from the police department, zonal and sector officers, and officials engaged in election monitoring teams were also eligible for postal voting. In total, about 3.36 lakh election personnel cast their votes through postal ballots, while another 1.10 lakh officials voted in person at polling stations after obtaining Election Duty Certificates (EDC).

Special provisions were also extended to elderly voters aged 85 years and above, as well as persons with disabilities.

Under Form 12D, a total of 1.73 lakh such voters availed the postal ballot facility and cast their votes from home.

Service voters, including armed forces personnel, also participated in the electoral process, with around 18,000 ballots received so far. Their postal ballots will be accepted until 8.00 a.m. on the day of counting.

Overall, apart from those who voted at polling stations, arrangements were made to facilitate voting for an additional 6.37 lakh voters through various special provisions, reflecting an expanded and inclusive electoral exercise.

–IANS

aal/dpb