The news of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is continuously in the headlines. Recently, exit poll results have come out and according to this, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government seems to be formed. Voting was held here in the first phase on November 6, in which 65.06 percent voting was recorded. At the same time, 68.76 percent voting took place in the second phase. A total of 66.91 percent voting took place in the entire election, which is the highest ever voting in Bihar. In such a situation, now everyone’s eyes are on counting. Everyone is discussing about counting and counting centre. Along with this, many types of questions are also coming up. Let us know what things cannot be taken to the counting center even by mistake and when are they immediately caught by the police?

These things cannot be taken to the counting center even by mistake

Some things cannot be brought to the counting center at all. This includes mobiles, electronic gadgets, weapons or any suspicious item. If a person tries to do this, the police immediately catches him. This rule is followed very strictly so that the counting of votes is completely fair and safe. Many rules have been made to prevent any kind of irregularities during counting of votes. Like every agent is given special badges to identify him. After coming to the hall, the agent is not allowed to go out. No person is allowed to enter the hall without the permission of the Returning Officer. There are arrangements for water, food and toilets around the hall.

vote counting protocol

Counting of votes is done in a completely secure and confidential manner. According to Sections 128 and 129 of the Representation of the People’s Act-1951, information related to vote counting is kept secret. Before the counting of votes starts, hall and table numbers are given to the officials in a random manner. There are maximum 14 tables in each hall and one table is for the returning officer. This number can be increased in special circumstances. The number of agents of each candidate cannot exceed 15 in the hall.

Punishment for irregularities in vote counting

There is a provision for punishment for both employees and citizens who commit irregularities at the counting centre. According to Section 136 of the Representation of the People’s Act-1951, the culprit can be jailed for 6 months to 2 years or fine or both. If there is a complaint of tampering in a voting machine, the Returning Officer immediately investigates it. If tampering is proved, then that machine is not counted and its information is given to the State and Central Election Commission.

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The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition challenging the 2024 Maharashtra assembly election results. Earlier, on 25 June, the Bombay High Court rejected it as a petition to waste time. Now the Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the order of the High Court.

What was said in the petition?
Vikhroli Mumbai assembly seat voter Chetan Chandrakant Ahire said in a petition filed in the High Court that even after 6 pm in the assembly elections in the state, about 76 lakh people cast their votes. The Election Commission is not giving their details. Ahire had demanded polling for 288 seats on 20 November 2024 and the results on 24 November 2024 as illegal.

Prakash Ambedkar, a lawyer and deprived Bahujan Aghadi leader, debated on behalf of the petitioner in the High Court. Senior advocate Ashutosh Kumbhakoni on behalf of the Election Commission and advocate Uday Varunjikar on behalf of the central government presented the side. He said that the petition is not legally valid. In an election, people who are in line before 6 o’clock, are always given a chance to vote. There is no system to keep a record of such people and make it available to anyone.

Supreme Court also refused after High Court
The petitioner also made demands like reviewing EVM-VVPAT of all seats, looking CCTV footage. Along with this, the order of voting with ballot paper was also sought in future. On 25 June, the bench of Justice GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor of Bombay High Court found the petition disqualified after a long hearing. Now the bench of Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh and N. Kotishwar Singh has also refused to hear it.