With the 2026 Assembly election results just hours away, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik has announced a massive security overhaul to ensure a "transparent and tamper-proof" counting process. For the first time in the state's history, a tech-driven QR code-based entry system will be integrated into a rigorous three-tier security perimeter across all 62 counting centers on May 4.
Under the new protocols, every authorized person, including counting agents, candidates, and technical staff, must carry a specialized Photo Identity Card generated via the ECINET portal. While the first two layers of security involve manual credential checks and frisking by state police, the third and final cordon at the entrance of the counting halls will require a successful QR code scan. This digital gatekeeper is designed to eliminate the possibility of unauthorized individuals or "impersonators" gaining access to the high-stakes environment where EVMs are unsealed.
To support this infrastructure, 65 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed across the state, alongside thousands of Tamil Nadu State Armed Police personnel. The security grid begins with a 100-meter "no-entry" zone around each center, effectively cordoning off the premises from public crowds.
The atmosphere in Tamil Nadu is particularly tense following a high-stakes campaign involving the DMK, AIADMK, and burgeoning third-front challengers. Security concerns were further amplified after Aadhav Arjuna of the TVK party petitioned the CEO for increased protection, citing an arson attack on a party office in Srirangam. In response, Patnaik confirmed that CCTV surveillance will be active 24/7, with feed monitoring available to candidates and their representatives.
Counting is set to begin tomorrow, Monday, at 8:00 AM with postal ballots, followed by the EVM rounds at 8:30 AM. As the state waits to see if the DMK retains power or if a new political order emerges, the Election Commission has made it clear: only those with a valid QR scan will witness history being tallied inside the halls.
