Tamil Nadu's Chief Electoral Officer has announced a three-tier security setup and a QR code-based entry system for the counting of votes in the state's assembly elections, as officials move to tighten oversight at counting centres.

The QR-based entry system means every person entering a counting hall will need a digitally verified pass, reducing the risk of unauthorised access and making it easier to track who is present at each stage of the count. Three layers of security will be deployed around counting venues, a standard escalation from normal protocol designed to prevent any interference with the process.

Repolling in West Bengal

Separately, repolling at 15 booths in the South 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal concluded with a voter turnout of close to 90%. Repolling is ordered when the original vote at specific booths is declared void due to irregularities, violence, or equipment failure. A near-90% turnout at these booths is notably high and suggests strong voter participation despite the disruption of a second round of voting.

South 24 Paraganas has historically been a politically sensitive district, making the smooth conclusion of repolling there significant for the overall integrity of the election process in the state.

What to Watch

The focus now shifts to counting day in Tamil Nadu, where the QR access controls and security layers will be tested in practice. Any breach or technical failure in the entry system would draw immediate scrutiny. For West Bengal, the high repolling turnout will feed into final vote tallies for those 15 booths, potentially influencing close contests in the affected constituencies.

Tamil Nadu: Three-tier security and QR entry controls at all counting centres.
West Bengal: Repolling at 15 booths in South 24 Paraganas completed with ~90% turnout.
Next step: Official vote counting and result declaration for both states.