Kakinada, Mar 30^th: The election authorities are making elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of counting in East Godavari district which is scheduled to held on May 16. The authorities are making arrangements to organize counting separately for both Assembly and Parliament with 19 counting centers for each. The counting for 18 Assembly and 3 parliament segments will be held at Kakinada.

The first phase of elections for Rampachodavaram Assembly segment will be organized on April 16 and the counting for the same will also be held at Kakinada. After the completion of voting in the two phases on April 16 and April 23 the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) of each constituency will be stored in strong rooms till the date of counting. Special security forces will be arranged for the same.

Through the process of randomization, the counting staff will be allotted with their respective counting centers one hour before the counting process begins. This is to avoid any possible malpractice during the counting process. East Godavari district collector, Mr. Gopala Krishna Dwevedi revealed that efforts were made to take up counting for Kakinada, Amalapuram and Rajahmundry constituencies separately.