Bengal Election Results: EC Issues New Guidelines, Makes Negative Covid Report Mandatory For Entering Counting Hall

The EC in an order said that the district election officer shall make arrangements of RT-PCR/RAT test for candidates and counting agents before the day of counting. 

(File Photo/ Getty)

Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday said that no candidates will be allowed inside the counting hall without presenting a negative RT-PCR or RAT report or a report confirming that the candidate has received both doses of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine.

The EC in an order said that the district election officer shall make arrangements of RT-PCR/RAT test for candidates and counting agents before the day of counting. 

"No candidates or agents will be allowed inside the counting hall without undergoing RT-PCR/RAT test or without having 2 doses of vaccination against Covid-19 and will have to produce negative RT-PCR report or RAT report or vaccination reports within 48 hours of the start of counting. The DEO shall make arrangement of RT-PCR/RAT Test to candidates or counting agents before the day of counting," it said.

After considering the views and inputs from Chief Secretaries, Health Secretaries, and the Chief Electoral Officers of all poll going States/UT, the Commission has directed all the poll going states/UT to adhere to the following instructions during the Counting process of the General Elections/Bye-Elections-

• DEO shall be the Nodal Officer at each Counting Centre to ensure adherence to the following the coVID-19 related norms at Counting Centres, with the assistance of the Nodal Health Officer.

• Compliance Certificate in respect of Counting Centre that all arrangement has been made as per extant COVID guidelines shall be obtained from the concerned Health Authorities.

• No candidates/agents will be allowed inside the counting hall without undergoing RT-PCR/RAT test or without having 2 doses of vaccination against Covid-19 and will have to produce Negative RT-PCR report or RAT report or Vaccination reports within 48 hours of the start of counting. The DEO shall make arrangements of RT-PCR/RAT Test to Candidates/Counting agents before the day of Counting. A list of counting agents shall be made available by the contesting candidates to the RO concerned by 1700 hours on the day three days before the date fixed for counting of votes. (para 15.12.2 of RO handbook) 

• No public gathering outside the counting venue shall be allowed during the process of counting. The Counting Hall should be sufficiently big to maintain Social V. Distancing and should have proper ventilation, windows, exhaust fan, etc. as per the available protocol of SDMA. 

• The counting centers shall be disinfected before, during, and after the counting

• Sealed outer boxes of EVM/VVPAT shall also be sanitized/disinfected.

• Number of Counting tables to be allowed in a counting hall as per the size of all and keeping in view safety norms prescribed for Covid-19. Hence, counting of votes of a constituency may be considered at 3-4 halls by appointing additional Assistant Returning Officers.

• At the entry of hall/ room/ premises: Thermal Scanning of all persons shall be carried out and Sanitizer, soap and water shall be made available and ever person entering in hall shall sanitize his/her hand. 

• No one having any symptom of COVID- 19 like fever, Cold, etc. shall be allowed to enter the Counting Hall.

• Candidate may appoint/replace the counting agents in the case report is positive.

• Social distancing shall be maintained inside Counting Hall, the seating arrangement of Counting Personnel/Agents, etc. should be made as per extant COVID-19 guidelines of NDMA/SDMA.

• There shall be a sufficient number of PPE Kit for Counting Agents / Candidates. The Counting Agents sitting arrangement shall be made in such a way that between 2 counting agents1 agent shall be in PPE.

• The following items shall be provided to every counting official and security personnel in addition to other prescribed items: Mask, Sanitizer, Face-Shield, Gloves

• For counting of Postal Ballots, an additional number of AROs may be deputed. If required, Postal Ballots may also be counted in a separate hall under the supervision of the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning officer.

• As per the government guidelines, there shall be proper arrangement of disposal of COVID-related wastage viz Mask, Face Shield, PPE Kit gloves, etc. 

• There shall be a proper display of guidelines "Does & Don't" at convenient places including the entrance gate and inside the counting hall. 

Yesterday, amid the surge in Covid-19 cases, the Election Commission has banned victory processions on or after counting on May 2.

The Election Commission had decided to curtail the timings of campaigns for the remaining phases and extended the silence period to 72 hours for each of the phases.

The counting of votes for West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry will take place on May 2.