Prez poll: Counting starts at 11 am on July 20, result out at 5 pm
Counting of the ballots cast in the July 17 presidential election will be taken up on Thursday to decide the fate of two contenders - the ruling NDA's candidate Ram Nath Kovind, who has a clear edge, and the combined Opposition nominee Meira Kumar.
Officials said all preparations have been made for the vote count and that all ballot boxes have already reached Parliament House by Tuesday evening amid tight security. They said the counting will begin at 11 am simultaneously across four tables. There will be eight rounds of counting, and announcements made after every round. Polling to choose the successor to President Pranab Mukherjee, who demits office on July 24, was held simultaneously at 32 polling stations -- one in Parliament House and one each in 29 state assemblies and two union territories with assemblies. Lok Sabha Secretary General Anoop Mishra is the Returning Officer for the election, and will issue the certificate to the winning candidate. Officials said the seals of ballot boxes will be opened on Thursday in the presence of representatives of the two candidates - former Bihar Governor Kovind and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar - and the observers of the Election Commission.