The results of elections to the two Lok Sabha constituencies and one Assembly constituency in Meghalaya will be declared on Thursday.
The counting of votes will start in 13 counting centres from 8 am onwards.
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But the counting would take time and the complete results are expected by 4 pm on Thursday, stated Meghalaya chief electoral officer Fredrick Roy Kharkongor.
The elections to Shillong Lok Sabha and Tura Lok Sabha constituencies and by-election to Selsella Assembly constituency were held on April 11.
Meghalaya CEO Kharkongor on Wednesday said a three-tier security was being arranged at the counting centres.
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The Election Commission has deputed 15 observers – nine for the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency, and six for the Tura Lok Sabha constituency, he added.
CCTVs have been also installed in all the counting centres. The strong rooms are being guarded by security personnel.
“Counting of votes will begin with postal ballots, to be followed by counting of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) slips for tallying with voted recorded in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs),” Kharkongor said.
VVPAT slips will be counted in five polling stations from each Assembly constituency – 300 polling stations in all the 60 Assembly constituencies.
According to the CEO, five polling booths from each Assembly seat would be selected through the draw of lots.
“Counting of slips in one VVPAT would take at least 45 minutes and the counting will be held in a special ‘VVPAT counting booth’ of the counting hall,” Kharkongor said.
The counting centres for the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency are Shillong, Sohra, Jowai, Khliehriat, Nongpoh, Mawkyrwat, Nongstoiñ, and Mairang.
For the Tura Lok Sabha constituency and Selsella Assembly by-election, the counting of votes will take place at Tura, Williamnagar, Baghmara, Resubelpara and Ampati.
The biggest among the counting centres is Shillong as votes polled in 15 Assembly segments under East Khasi Hills district would be counted at three halls of Indoor Sports Hall and Dalang Stage, Polo in Shillong.
The Tura Lok Sabha constituency witnessed a high turnout of 81.30 per cent in the Lok Sabha polls and the Shillong Lok Sabha seat recorded 65.49 per cent.
Voting percentage in the by-election to Selsella Assembly constituency was 92.20 pc.
The state recorded an overall turnout of 71.41 per cent.
From Shillong Lok Sabha seat, six candidates include sitting Congress MP, Vincent H. Pala, Sanbor Shullai of the BJP, Jemino Mawthoh of the UDP and three Independents – T.H.S. Bonney, Romeo Phira Ranee and Samuel Hashah from Shillong constituency are in the fray.
From Tura Lok Sabha constituency, former chief minister Mukul Sangma of the Congress, former union minister Agatha K. Sangma of the ruling NPP and Rikman G. Momin of the BJP are in the fray.
From Selsella Assembly constituency, four candidates are in the fray – Ferlin CA Sangma of the NPP, June Eliana R. Marak of the Congress and the widow of Selsella MLA, Clement Marak, Sayeedullah Nongrum of the United Democratic Party and Adorsho Sangma of the BJP.
The by-election to Selsella Assembly seat was necessitated following the death of the sitting MLA (Clement Marak) on October 8 last year.