Hyderabad: Aiming at ensuring
transparency in the counting votes in the by-elections to 12
assembly seats in Telangana region, election authorities in
Andhra Pradesh will video record the whole process.
"We will be installing CCTV cameras at the strong
rooms where EVMs and ballot boxes are kept. The counting
process will also be recorded in the cameras which will be
shown outside the counting halls," state Chief Electoral
Officer (CE0) I V Subba Rao told reporters here.
Responding to a suggestion, he said he would see if
the counting process can be made available to news channels to
telecast the process live.
The CEO said foolproof arrangements are being made
for the counting to be held on July 30. Polling for the 12
assembly seats was held yesterday.
Replying to a query, he said repoll would not be
necessary in any of the constituencies.
The CEO said several restrictions would be imposed at
the counting centres.
"Mobile phones and smoking would not be allowed inside
the counting halls. Only authorised persons would be allowed
inside. We are taking several precautions," he said.
He said 66.67 per cent of polling was recorded in the
polling to the 12 assembly segments. The highest polling
percentage of 81.81 was reported in Sirpur, while the lowest
45.13 per cent was in Nizamabad Urban.
The final figures over the poll percentage was
announced after information was received from all presiding
officers.
The bypolls were necessitated as the sitting MLAs had
quit their posts in support of separate Telangana demand.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 22:57