Counting of votes for 11 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council seats will begin at 8am on Tuesday under enhanced security and monitoring arrangements ordered by chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa. The exercise covers five Graduates’ and six Teachers’ constituencies in the biennial elections to the state’s upper house.
In instructions issued to returning officers on Monday, Rinwa directed officials to ensure elaborate security and logistical preparations at every counting centre. Security personnel must remain deployed until the counting process is completed, while access will be restricted to authorised persons.
CCTV surveillance and videography will be mandatory at the centres to monitor the proceedings. Officials have also been told to arrange identification badges for authorised personnel and follow the guidelines governing the appointment and access of counting agents.
The chief electoral officer directed returning officers to ensure uninterrupted power supply during counting. Automatic-switch generators are to be kept available as backup so that a power disruption does not interrupt the process or affect the operation of surveillance systems and counting arrangements.
Officials must also ensure that sufficient stationery is available at every counting table and that trained personnel are deployed. Additional trained officials and employees will remain on reserve duty because the counting process for Legislative Council elections can take longer than conventional elections.
The extended counting time is linked to the proportional representation system used in these elections, which involves the single transferable vote. Under this system, the counting process requires the handling and transfer of votes according to prescribed procedures, making preparation and staffing particularly important.
Rinwa instructed officials to follow the Conduct of Elections Rules and the guidelines issued by the Election Commission. The directions cover security, entry control, documentation, staffing, power backup and surveillance, placing responsibility on returning officers to maintain continuity and procedural compliance at the centres.
Candidates will be informed about the rules governing counting agents, while officials have been asked to ensure that all authorised representatives carry the necessary identification. The instructions are intended to prevent unauthorised access and ensure that the counting process remains orderly and documented.
The chief electoral officer warned that negligence or violations of the prescribed procedures would be viewed seriously. Counting will continue under the supervision of the designated election officials until the results for all 11 seats are processed.
