Election Observation Report (Counting Process) NA-154 (Lodhran-I)

 

 

Election Observation Report (Counting Process) NA-154 (Lodhran-I)

 

Monday (February 12, 2018)

This report is issued by Coalition for Elections and Democracy (CED) for observing the counting process at NA-154 (Lodhran-I). Total number of Registered voters in the constituency is 4,31,002 including 2,36,496 male voters and 1,94,506 female voters. Total number of polling stations set up in the constituency is 338 with 1043 polling booths, 566 for male voters and 477 for female voters.

The official closing time of the polling is 5pm. The CED teams made sure to enter the sampled polling stations before the closure of voting process. However, at the Polling Station #55 Govt. Girls Primary School, Chak No. 97/M (Male), at polling station # 31 Govt. Boys High School, (Male) and at polling station # 253 Basic Health Unit, Galay wal at Sagwan (Comb) security officials didn’t allow the observers to enter the polling stations and observe the counting process. The observers remained outside the polling stations till the end of the counting process and received copy of polling station result count i.e. form 45 from the presiding officers.

The observers reported that 100 % of the observed polling stations closed on time. The polling staff started the closing process immediately and the counting started within 10 minutes of the closing at average. The voters waiting to vote inside the polling station were allowed to vote.

At 100% of the sampled polling stations the observers reported that the staff counted the number of issued ballot papers while closing the polling. At same percent of sampled polling stations the staff recorded the number of issued ballot papers in ECP forms. While staff at 100% polling stations counted and record the number of un-used ballot papers immediately after start of closing process. Teams of observers reported that at 33% of the polling stations seal of the ballot box was not properly intact when it was brought to table for counting process. Observers reported from 100% polling stations that the polling staff cross checked the number of ballots cast against the number of signatures on the counterfoil I.e. issued ballot papers. Observers reported that that at 11% of the polling stations the polling staff did not perform the crosschecks of the data for mathematical consistency. Observers reported that at 22% of the polling stations that counting process was seriously hampered by overcrowding.

Team of observers reported that at 100% polling stations presiding officer got signature of senior assistant presiding officer and polling agents on result of the count and ballot paper account while at 77% polling stations presiding officer got signature of observers on the result of the count and ballot paper account.

Team of observers reported that at 11 % of sampled polling stations the presiding officers did not paste the result outside the polling station for the public. At100 % of sampled polling stations the presiding officers gave copies of the result (form 45) to the poling agents. The observers reported that at 45% polling stations the ballot paper account was not posted outside the polling station.

The observers noted that during counting process no formal complaint was lodged at polling stations. The polling staff cooperated with the CED observers during the counting process. All the observers were allowed to sit in the counting room without any restriction except for three polling station already mentioned above. The presiding officers of all the sampled polling stations answered all questions related to counting process and shared details of the vote count with observers.

About CED: CED is a civil society coalition for voter education, election observation and strengthening democratic institutions. Its secretariat is based at CPDI

Coalition for Election and Democracy
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