The stage is set for counting of votes tomorrow in the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls to 4 states – Arunachal Pradesh,Odisha,Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh.

Election Commission says, counting will begin at 8 AM with postal ballots first followed by Electronic Voting Machines – EVMS later. The counting is likely to be completed by 5 PM but trends will be available by 11 AM or before.By noon, a final picture could emerge on who would be the major players in the 16th Lok Sabha. Counting will be taken up in 989 centres.

Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said elaborate arrangements have been made for counting of votes at all centers across the country. Talking to All India Radio, Sampath said each counting table will have a micro observer to monitor the counting process and after every round the result sheet will be provided to the candidates.

On protecting identity of voters during counting, he said a proposal for use of totalizer during counting is pending with parliament. He said, once it is approved the votes polled in 12 polling stations will be mixed and then it would not be possible for any one to know which candidate got how many votes at a particular polling booth.

He said, providing security in conflict areas and curbing the use of money power and liquor were the major challenges during conduct of this Lok Sabha elections. Sampath said, the Commission conducted the polls in phases because of limited availability central police forces.

This is the first time the option of 'none of the above' or NOTA is introduced on the EVMs following Supreme Court directions.

In all about 8000 candidates are in the fray 543 Lok Sabha seats. Lok Sabha elections 2014 witnessed the highest-ever turnout of 66 per cent of an estimated 814 million voters exercising their franchise – the highest ever in the history of general elections.