Elaborate arrangements are in place at the two counting centres in Erode district where votes polled in the Assembly election held on April 23 will be taken up for counting on May 4.

Polling was held in all eight Assembly constituencies in the district at 2,379 polling stations, recording a turnout of 90.07%. The electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPATs are kept in strong rooms at the two counting centres — the Government College of Engineering, Chithode, and the Government Arts and Science College, Gobichettipalayam — under round-the-clock surveillance with three-tier security.

Counting for Erode East, Erode West, Modakkurichi, Perundurai, Bhavani and Anthiyur constituencies will be held at the Government College of Engineering, while that for Gobichettipalayam and Bhavanisagar constituencies will take place at the Government Arts and Science College, Gobichettipalayam. The seals of the strong rooms will be opened in the presence of the District Election Officer and Collector S. Kandasamy, observers, Returning Officers and candidates’ representatives, following which the EVMs will be moved to the respective counting halls. Counting will begin at 8 a.m.

As many as 14 tables have been arranged in each constituency for every round of counting. The votes recorded in the EVMs will be counted in 174 rounds, at the end of which the results will be declared. As many as 17 supervisors, 17 assistants and 17 micro-observers have been deployed for each Assembly constituency. Likewise, for counting of postal ballots, 56 supervisors, 112 assistants and 56 micro-observers will be involved. The entire process will be recorded.

Officials said only agents with photo identity cards issued by the Election Commission would be allowed into the counting centres after security checks at the entrance. The results of each round will be communicated to the Election Commission without delay and will also be announced through the public address system at the counting centres.

More than 1,500 police personnel will be deployed in and around the counting centres and across the district. In addition, medical teams and Fire and Rescue Services personnel will be stationed on the premises.