CHANDIGARH: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju on Wednesday informed that all the necessary arrangements have been made for the counting of votes for the Punjab Assembly Elections 2022.
He said that counting of votes for 117 Assembly constituencies of Punjab would take place on March 10, 2022 from 8 am onwards. He said that 117 counting centers have been set up at 66 locations in the state.
The CEO said the three-tier security measures have been set up with deployment of 45 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at all the 117 counting centers. As many as 7500 personnel will be deputed for the counting process in the state, he added.
He informed that as many as 3562 identity cards have been issued to journalists for their entry at counting centres and with the permission of Returning Officers, journalists are allowed to go to some specified extent at the counting centres. He said that except from the still and video cameramen deployed for government record, no one else will be allowed to permanently station the video or still camera at the counting center.
The CEO said that a 100-meter radius around the counting centre area has been declared a “Pedestrian Zone” and no one will be allowed to drive in that zone.
He said that as per the instructions of Election Commission of India (ECI) a maximum of 14 counting tables would be set up at each counting center. In addition, separate tables will be set up for counting of the ETPB issued to service voters and officers/staff engaged in election duty.
Dr Raju said that in view of the vote counting, Section 144 has been imposed in all the districts by the District Election Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners and gathering of people outside the counting centres is prohibited.
Dr Raju also said that the day of counting i.e. March 10, 2022 has been declared a dry day by the government till the counting of votes is completed.