Preparations for the counting of votes in all five Assembly constituencies in Pathanamthitta have entered the final stage, with the second phase of training for officials engaged in vote counting scheduled to be held on May 4 at the District Collectorate.

Each constituency will have 14 tables for counting votes recorded in electronic voting machines. Every table will be staffed by a counting supervisor, counting assistant, and micro observer. For postal ballot counting, nine tables each will be arranged in Thiruvalla, Aranmula, Konni, and Adoor constituencies, while Ranni will have seven tables. Each of these tables will be overseen by a counting supervisor, micro observer, and two counting assistants.

Preparations are progressing under the supervision of District Collector S. Prem Krishnan. At a review meeting held on Wednesday, he directed assistant returning officers from all constituencies to reach the Collectorate by 5.30 a.m. on counting day to receive postal ballots. The strong room will be opened at 7 a.m. in the presence of observers, candidates, and their agents. Counting will begin at 8 a.m. sharp.

A separate counter will be arranged outside the centre for storing mobile phones. Except for those authorised by the State Election Commission, all individuals entering the hall must deposit their mobile phones at the counter and collect them later using tokens.

Officials will be given clear instructions by the returning officer before counting begins. After receiving the required OTP for the ENCORE and ETPBMS systems, mobile phones of all personnel, except the returning officer, will be collected and kept on the dais.

Strict access control will be enforced along the route used to transport machines from the strong room to the counting centre. After each round, slips containing the count details will be signed by counting agents, followed by the supervisor and assistant, before being submitted to the returning officer, who will forward them to the tabulation team.

Updates after each round will be entered in the ENCORE application under the supervision of deputy tahsildars. Only authorised personnel will be allowed inside the counting hall, where all proceedings will be videographed. Special attention has also been directed towards tabulation table operations.

In case objections are raised after postal ballot counting, only those ballots kept aside as doubtful will be re-examined. After the declaration of results, the machines will be transported to the election warehouse near the Collectorate and classified as defective, unused, and used before being handed over.

Parking of vehicles will not be allowed inside the counting centres. The district has three counting centres, and designated parking areas have been arranged nearby, informed District Police Chief R. Anand.