MLC polls: Counting of votes today

The counting of votes for the elections to the Legislative Council from local bodies constituencies will begin at 8 am in 20 counting centres across the State on Wednesday. The polling was held on December 27. Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said that security arrangements were in place and that the entire counting process would be videographed to maintain transparency. He said that results would emerge sooner in smaller constituencies like Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru where there are less than 2,000 votes. The results in the case of larger constituencies such as Vijayapura and Belagavi might be delayed. "It depends on the type of contest and the number of ballot papers to be counted,” he said. He however said that the entire process would get completed by evening. Results will be hosted on the CEO website - www.ceokarnataka.kar.nic.in. Updates of results will also be reflected on the website, he added. Those candidates who secure '50 per cent votes plus one vote’, will be declared as victors. However, if nobody secures the majority votes in the first preference round, then counting is furthered to second, third or more number of rounds. Elimination of candidates will keep happening until a candidate meets the '50 pc plus one vote’ requirement. Counting in Bengaluru will take place in Maharani's Science College (Annex) Building, Palace Road; while the centre for Bengaluru Rural is Government Ramnarayan Chellaram College of Commerce, Palace Road, Basaveshwara Circle, Bengaluru. List of the counting centers has been made available on the CEO website. - DHNS