All steps in place for counting of votes in Kerala

All 20 centres in Kerala are ready for the counting of votes polled in the April 26 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kaul said on Saturday. The votes will be counted on June 4, Tuesday.

Mr. Kaul said all steps had been taken to ensure a transparent and secure counting process. Counting would kick off at 8 a.m., beginning with the postal ballots. The votes polled in the electronic voting machines (EVM) would commence half an hour after the counting of postal ballots.

Only counting supervisors, counting assistants, micro observers, Election Commission of India representatives, observers, government officials on election duty, and candidates and their election agents would be permitted to enter the counting halls. Other than ECI observers, no one would be permitted to use mobile phones inside the counting room.