Abstract. In this work, we construct suitable generating functions for vortices of alternating signs in the realm of Bose-Einstein condensates. In addition to the vortex-vortex interaction included in earlier fluid dynamics constructions of such functions, the vortices here precess around the center of the trap. This results in the generating functions of the vortices of positive charge and of negative charge satisfying a modified, so-called, Tkachenko differential equation. From that equation, we reconstruct collinear few-vortex equilibria obtained in earlier work, as well as extend them to larger numbers of vortices. Moreover, particular moment conditions can be derived e.g. about the sum of the squared locations of the vortices for arbitrary vortex numbers. Furthermore, the relevant differential equation can be generalized appropriately in the two-dimensional complex plane and allows the construction e.g. of polygonal vortex ring and multi-ring configurations, as well as ones with rings surrounding a vortex at the center that are again connected to earlier bibliography.