PCMC polls: Second training session begins for officers, staffers appointed for vote counting

PCMC office building. (File Photo)

With less than two weeks left for the municipal elections scheduled on January 15, the second phase of training of officers and staffers appointed for the vote counting process commenced at the Election Returning Officer’s Office at the G. D. Madgulkar auditorium in Akurdi Pradhikaran on Monday.

Speaking at the training session, Election Returning Officer Hanumant Patil provided detailed guidance to the officers and employees regarding the vote counting process. “Vote counting is an extremely sensitive and crucial process in the election procedure, and to ensure there are no mistakes, every officer and employee must fully understand the rules, technical aspects, and their responsibilities before carrying out their duties,” said Patil.

Patil emphasised transparency, accuracy, and discipline in the vote-counting process and guided the officers and employees accordingly. “It is essential to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India during vote counting, exercise caution while handling EVMs, and perform tasks according to the prescribed procedures at every stage. All officers and employees to understand their respective responsibilities thoroughly and work in coordination to avoid any kind of errors, negligence, or rule violations,” said Patil.

During the training that was conducted in three sessions, detailed technical and legal guidance was provided through computer presentations (PPT) regarding the procedures to be followed on the day of polling and vote counting. This included the connection of EVMs, ballot units, and control units, the method of conducting mock polls, legal provisions related to elections, guidelines of the Election Commission of India, important changes in the elections, the postal voting process, various stages of the voting process, receiving and checking election materials, material distribution and acceptance system, checking the marked electoral roll, and inspection of voting machines.

Detailed information was also provided regarding the setting up of polling stations, the layout of polling booths, preparations to be made at polling stations the day before, procedures to be followed upon arrival at polling stations, security arrangements at polling stations, and procedures to be followed after the completion of the polling and vote counting process.

In addition, officers and employees were guided on the duties and responsibilities of polling officers at the polling station, the responsibilities of the presiding officer in the polling station premises, the outline of work at various stages, and the procedures to be followed in unforeseen and important cases. A practical demonstration on handling EVMs, ballot units, and control units was also given during the training.

The training session, which was held in the presence of Election Observer Sarita Narke, was also attended by Coordination Officer and Executive Engineer Harvinder Singh Bansal, Assistant Election Returning Officers Ravindra Kulkarni, Chandrakant Muthal, Rajaram Sarger, along with chief trainers Satish Meher, Avinash Walunj, Rameshwar Pawar, and Narendra Band, and a large number of officers and employees appointed for vote counting.