The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes which would begin at 8 am on Friday. Results would be known within 3 hours as electronic voting machines were used in the Nellore Lok Sabha seat and all the 18 assembly constituencies where by-elections were held on June 12.
Speaking to the media on the eve of counting Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal has said that in each counting centre a media centre was set up where results would be informed to the media persons. He said heavy security arrangements were made at all the counting centres to prevent untoward situations. A three-tier security set up was put in place. He said at the minimum level there were 12 rounds of counting and at the maximum level there were 19.
According to the information given by the Election Commission, the following arrangements were made for counting of votes of different constituencies.
Votes of the Parakala constituency would be taken up at the Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal. 12 tables were arranged for the 19 rounds of counting. For counting of votes for the Polavaram and Narsapuram constituencies of West Godavari district, arrangements were made at the CRR Polytechnic College in Eluru. 16 tables were arranged for the Polavaram constituency which has 16 rounds of counting while 12 tables were set up for the 12 rounds of Narsapuram.
Counting of votes for the Prattipadu constituency of Guntur district would be held in the Andhra Christian College in Guntur. Counting would be completed in 17 rounds on 14 tables. St. Joseph high school of Guntur was selected for counting of votes of Macharla in 16 rounds on 14 tables. Counting of votes of the Udayagiri assembly constituency would be held at the Priyadarshini Engineering College at Kanapartipadu on the outskirts of Nellore. Counting would be completed in 19 rounds.
Nellore Lok Sabha votes also would be counted at the same college.
Votes of all the assembly constituencies under the Lok Sabha constituency excepting Kandukuru would be held at Kanaparti engineering college. Votes of Kandukuru would be taken up at Ongole.
Nellore result would be known in 17 rounds of counting.
In Kadapa district, votes of Railway Koduru, Rajampet and Rayachoti constituencies would be held at the JMJ College of Kadapa. 14 tables were set up for each of the constituencies. Counting of votes of Tirupati would be held at the Sri Venkateswara Arts College where 14 tables were set up for the 19 rounds of counting. In Kurnool, counting of votes of Yemmiganuru and Allagadda would be held in the Pulla Reddy Engineering College at Kurnool town. 14 tables were set up for each of the constituencies. While Allagadda counting would be over in 14 rounds, it would take 16 rounds for the Yemmiganur constituency.
In Anantapur district, counting of the Rayadurgam and Anantapur constituencies would take place at the Government Polytechnic College in the town. 14 tables were set up for each of the constituencies.
In Visakhapatnam, counting of votes of Payakaraopet would be held at the L Bullaiah college of Visakhapatnam. 14 tables were set up for the purpose. In Prakasham district, arrangements were made at the Ongole municipal office for counting of votes for the Ongole seat. 14 tables were set up. In East Godavari district, votes of Ramachandrapuram would be counted at the Andhra Polytechnic College in Kakinada. 14 tables were set up for the purpose. (NSS)