Tamil Nadu Prepares for Vote Counting with Tight Security and Massive Deployment

Chennai, May 2026: Comprehensive arrangements, including a robust three-tier security system, have been put in place across Tamil Nadu for the counting of votes in the Assembly elections scheduled on May 4, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik announced on Sunday.

The counting process will commence at 8 a.m. with postal ballots, followed by votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from 8:30 a.m. The exercise will be conducted simultaneously across 62 designated counting centres in the state, ensuring a coordinated and transparent process.

Polling for all 234 Assembly constituencies took place on April 23 amid a high-stakes political contest. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is seeking to retain power, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is aiming to return to office after five years in the opposition. The electoral dynamics have been further intensified by the entry of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the continued presence of Naam Tamilar Katchi led by Seeman.

To manage the large-scale counting process, authorities have deployed nearly 1.25 lakh personnel, including counting staff, micro-observers, and security forces. Of these, around one lakh police personnel will be tasked with maintaining law and order across counting centres and surrounding areas.

A total of 234 counting halls have been set up for EVM votes, along with 240 additional halls dedicated to postal ballots and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPBs). The counting will take place across 3,324 tables, ensuring efficiency and speed in tabulation.

The entire process will be supervised by Returning Officers (ROs), supported by Assistant Returning Officers (AROs). As many as 10,545 personnel have been assigned counting duties, while 4,624 micro-observers will ensure strict adherence to Election Commission guidelines. Additionally, 234 counting observers—one for each constituency—have been appointed to monitor proceedings and maintain transparency.

For postal ballot counting, 1,135 AROs have been specifically deployed, with one table designated for every 500 ballots to streamline the process.

Security remains a top priority, with a three-layer system implemented at all counting centres. The outer perimeter (within 100 metres) will be guarded by local police, entry points will be secured by State Armed Police, and the innermost zones—including counting halls and EVM strong rooms—will be under the protection of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). In total, 65 CAPF companies have been stationed across the state.

In a technological upgrade, authorities have introduced a QR code-based photo identity system via ECINET for the first time. Entry into counting centres will be strictly regulated through QR code verification, allowing access only to authorised personnel such as officials, candidates, and their agents.

Round-wise results will be announced by Returning Officers at each centre and updated in real-time on the ECINET app and the Election Commission’s official results portal, ensuring transparency and timely dissemination of information.