Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 15 May 2024
Election Commission of India convened a crucial video conference on May 14th, 2024, bringing together key stakeholders including Returning Officer, Counting Supervisor, and technical team from the Chief Electoral Office & RO’s Office. The purpose of the conference was to provide comprehensive training and instructions on the Pre-Counting Module within the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot Management System (ETPBMS) in connection with the General Election to Lok Sabha-2024.
The ETPBMS, a sophisticated system designed for issuing e-Postal Ballots to all Service Voters, was at the centre of discussions during the conference. Through a detailed PowerPoint presentation, the technical team of the Election Commission of India meticulously outlined step-by-step instructions and Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) concerning the Pre-Counting and Counting of e-Postal Ballots.
Mr. B S Jaglan, IAS, the Chief Electoral Officer of A&N Islands, affirmed that all requisite arrangements, in accordance with the Commission’s directives, had been meticulously put in place to ensure the seamless execution of the counting process at the designated Counting Centre located at JNRM, Port Blair.
Participating virtually from the Conference Hall of RO’s Office, South Andaman, were the Returning Officer, ANIPC, Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, alongside Assistant Returning Officers Mr. Vinayak Chamadia, IAS, and Mr. Anand Vardhan Mishra, along with technical teams representing both the Chief Electoral Office and the Returning Officer’s Office.
The training session served as a vital preparatory measure, underscoring the Election Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections, bolstered by the effective utilization of advanced technological tools and systematic training procedures. With the groundwork laid out through such sessions, stakeholders are poised to navigate the electoral process with precision and efficiency, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the democratic exercise.