Covid test or 2 doses of vaccination must for candidates/ agents for entering counting hall

April 29: In view of the second wave of pandemic and in order to ensure a completely Covid safe arrangements during counting of votes on 2 May, 2021, The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued “Broad Guidelines for Covid-Safety During Counting of votes on 2nd May, 2021.”

i. 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 assistance of Nodal Health Officer.

ii. 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.

iii. 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 start of counting. The DEO shall make arrangement of RT-PCR/ RAT Test to Candidates/Counting agents before the day of Counting. List of counting agents shall be made available by the contesting candidates to the RO concerned by 1700 hours on the day three days prior to the date fixed for counting of votes. (para 15.12.2 of RO handbook)

iv. No public gathering outside the counting venue shall be allowed during the process of counting.

v. The Counting Hall should be sufficiently big to maintain Social Distancing, and should have proper ventilation, windows, exhaust fan etc. as per available protocol of SDMA.

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

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

viii. Number of Counting tables to be allowed in a counting hall as per the size of Hall 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.

ix. At the entry of hall/ room/ premises- (a) Thermal Scanning of all persons shall be carried out; (b). Sanitizer, soap and water shall be made available and every person entering in hall shall sanitize his/her hand.

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

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

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

xiii. There shall be 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 agents 1 agent shall be in PPE.

xiv. The following items shall be provided to every counting official and security personnel in addition to other prescribed items: a. Mask b. Sanitizer c. Face-Shield d. Gloves

xv. For counting of Postal Ballots, 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.

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

xvii. There shall be proper display of guidelines “Does as Don’t” at convenient places including entrance gate and inside counting hall.

No victory procession after the counting on 02.05.2021 shall be allowed. Not more than two persons shall be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his/her authorized representative receive the certificate of election from the Returning Officer.

Non-compliance of Instructions — Anybody violating instructions on COVID-19 measures will be liable to proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable, as specified in Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 29th July, 2020 of Ministry of Home Affairs. District Election Officer should bring this to the notice of all concerned.