DMK seeks separate agents to count VVPAT slips

In his representation made with the chief electoral officer of the state on Tuesday, DMK principal secretary TR Baalu has also implored the Commission to obtain signature from the counting agents of respective candidates present in each table in the filled in Part-II of form 17C and filled-in annexure relating to counting of the VVPAT paper slips, after completion of Part-II – Result of Counting of Form 17C with the signature of counting supervisor, as per the instruction in clause 13.3 of the Hand Book for counting agents.

“The handbook for counting agent is silent as to the appointment of counting agents for monitoring the mandatory verification of the VVPAT paper slips of five polling booths of each Assembly segment of all Parliamentary constituencies and five polling booths of each Assembly constituency, which faced by-elections,” the DMK petition read.

“Unless permission is granted to appoint separate counting agents for counting of VVPAT paper trails, there would not be any transparency and credibility in the counting of VVPAT paper slips. Hence, every candidate shall be permitted to appoint one counting agent for each polling booth selected for verification of VVPAT paper slips,” the petition added.

The principal opposition party also urged the EC to make adequate facilities at the counting tables to get signatures from the respective counting agents present at the counting tables and to provide copies of filled-in Part II of Form 17C and filled-in annexure.

In cases where the control unit is not working, due to low battery, the result will be retrieved by replacing the battery. Control units, from which results cannot be retrieved, even after replacement of batteries, will be kept in the custody of the returning officer in the counting hall and the VVPAT slips in respect of such EVMs (malfunctioned EVMs) will be counted, after completion of counting of votes from all control units. As per the Election Commission’s recent instruction, counting of EVM votes can continue, without waiting for the completion of counting of postal ballots. In case of Assembly elections, if the winning margin is more than the total votes polled in all such polling stations, those units will not be taken up for counting. In case the winning margin is equal to or less than the total votes polled in these polling stations, counting of VVPAT slips alone will be done.