First round of training on counting process held in South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 07 May [IPR]: The first round of hands-on and theoretical training for Counting Officers on the counting process was held at District Conference Hall, Namchi today which was chaired by ADC (South) Kapil Meena. Deputy Secretary (Elections), Bishal Mukhia welcomed the gathering before the training commenced.
ADC (Dev) Namchi, Benu Gurung carried out the training via Power Point Presentation and she informed the trainees that the counting of postal ballot will commence half an hour prior to the actual EVM counting i.e. 8:00 am. Further, she briefed the Counting Officers about the counting setup for Postal Ballots and EVMs, the Do’s and Don’ts pertaining to their respective duties on the allocated day for the same.
Ms Gurung updated the Counting Officials about the fresh set of ECI guidelines, one of which is that the counting of Postal Ballots is to be completed before the start of EVM counting. She added that the counting of Postal Ballot should be carried out under the supervision of Returning Officer. Further, due to this new regulation, the Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants are to be Gazetted Officers only.
“Micro-observers (Govt. of India or Central PSU officials) will be assigned in each table alongside a videographer during the counting process of both the Postal Ballot and EVM”, added Ms. Gurung.  She further elucidated that rejection of the postal ballot may take place in case any discrepancy is found in the Ballot paper. She further informed the Counting Officers that the RO can at any time order them to recount the votes if he finds the counting to be dissatisfactory.
DPO (South), Yangchen Tamang demonstrated the procedure of counting votes on EVMs and the Counting Supervisors were also given hands-on training on counting the votes on EVMs. The next round of training for the Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants will be held on 14 May, 2014. Also present in the training were Assistant Collector, Mr. Raghu and SDM (HQ), Sandup Bhutia.