The Election Commission has made extensive security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct in counting votes.

Lucknow, 02 June 2024: State Chief Electoral Officer Mr Navdeep Rinwa informed that counting votes for the Lok Sabha General Elections 2024 will start on 04 June 2024 at 8.00 am. Voters will be counted at 81 counting centers in all 75 districts of the state. Voters will be counted at 02-02 centres in the Agra, Meerut, Azamgarh, Deoria, Sitapur, and Kushinagar districts. The votes of 08 Lok Sabha constituencies will be counted in 03 districts, the votes of 37 Lok Sabha constituencies in 02 districts, and 35 Lok Sabha constituencies in 01 district.

Postal ballots will be counted at the RO Headquarters District’s counting place. Votes will be counted assembly constituency-wise. After that, the result of the Lok Sabha constituency will be declared by adding the results of the assembly constituencies included in the Lok Sabha constituency. Due to the larger number of polling stations (1127) in 55 Sahibabad Assembly Constituencies included in 12 Ghaziabad Lok Sabha Constituencies, the counting of votes will be completed in a maximum of 41 rounds.

The Chief Electoral Officer informed that the Election Commission of India has deployed 179 observers to count votes. 15 observers have been allotted one assembly constituency each, 104 observers have been allotted two assembly constituencies each, and 60 observers have been allotted three assembly constituencies each. Counting of votes for 80 Lok Sabha constituencies will be conducted by 80 Returning Officers and 1581 Assistant Returning Officers. 851 candidates are in the fray in the Lok Sabha General Elections 2024. The most candidates, 28, are in the 70 Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency, and the lowest number of candidates, 4, is in the 57 Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency.

Adequate Central Paramilitary Forces have also been deployed to ensure smooth counting conduct. The candidate or his election agent shall apply to the Returning Officer on Form 18 for the appointment of a counting agent by 5.00 pm, 03 days before the commencement of counting. There are no eligibility criteria for appointing a counting agent. Candidates can appoint a person above 18 as a counting agent. There is a ban on appointing members of the Council of Ministers of the Central/State Government, MPs, MLAs, Mayor, Chairman of Municipal Council/Nagar Panchayat as counting agents. There is a ban on appointing persons provided security by the Central/State Government as counting agents. There is no ban on appointing Gram Pradhan, Sarpanch, Panchayat members, Council members, etc., as counting agents who are residents of the constituency. Non-resident Indians can also be appointed as counting agents.

The Election Commission of India has approved additional rooms for counting postal ballots in all Lok Sabha constituencies. For counting postal ballots, postal ballot votes received at home voting and voter facilitation centers will start at 8.00 am, and scanning of ETPBS received from service voters will also start at 8.00 am. After scanning, ETPBS votes will be counted on tables. For scanning/pre-counting of ETPBS, 871 tables will be set up, and postal ballot votes will be counted on 794 tables. A three-tier security system has been implemented to secure the counting venue. The first level of security will be at a radius of 100 meters from the counting venue, where the regional police force will be deployed. The second level of protection will be at the gate of the counting venue, where the state police force will be deployed. The third level of security will be for the counting hall, which will be under the supervision of CAPF.

Only persons holding media passes issued by the Election Commission of India can carry a camera (without a stand) inside the counting hall. A media centre is being set up on the counting venue premises. One officer from the Information Department will be in charge of the media centre. Occasionally, officers appointed by RO will also take media persons in small groups to tour the counting hall for some time. The use of mobile phones and cameras by media persons will be allowed only at the media centre. A public communication room is also being set up at each counting venue, where candidates and their agents can use mobile phones if required, and arrangements are made to keep their phones safe.

Instructions have been issued to all the District Election Officers to make adequate arrangements for clean and cold drinking water and toilets for the candidates, their agents, counting personnel, and other employees. Adequate ORS/medical kits and a medical team will also be available at the counting venue to protect against heat waves. Instructions have also been given to make arrangements for fans at the sitting places of the candidates, their agents, counting personnel and other employees.