Preparations begin for counting of votes for Maval and Shirur seats at Balewadi

PIMPRI: The election authorities have started preparations for the counting of votes for the LS polls held at Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha seats at the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex at Balewadi here on Thursday.

Pune district authorities have appointed employees for counting of votes for the two constituencies. These personnel will be given special training for conducting the counting of votes smoothly.

The electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other poll material of the two parliamentary constituencies have been kept at strong rooms in the sports complex.

There will be a three-tier security arrangement for allowing entry of eligible persons at the counting sites on May 23. The identity cards of people will be first scrutinised by the police, the people will be later examined with security machines by the State Reserve Police personnel and later the Central Reserve Police Force will physically examine the people.

There will be closed-circuit television cameras fixed on all four directions at the counting sites.

The appointed counting personnel will be allotted their respective tables at 5 am on the counting day.

Returning Officer for Maval constituency Kavita Dwivedi said that all wooden doors at the voting sites have been applied fire-proof chemicals. Besides, there will be other emergency facilities including a fire tender, an ambulance with a doctor and nurse, she said.