Chennai, April 29:
Ahead of the vote counting for the 2026 Assembly elections, extensive security and preparatory measures have been put in place at counting centres across Chennai, with senior officials conducting inspections to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
The inspection was carried out by the Chennai District Election Officer and the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner at key centres, including Queen Mary’s College, Loyola College, and Anna University.
Following the completion of polling on April 23, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from 16 Assembly constituencies in the district have been securely stored in strong rooms across three locations. Five constituencies’ EVMs are housed at Queen Mary’s College, six at Loyola College, and five at Anna University. Officials confirmed that all machines were sealed in the presence of election authorities, candidates and their agents.
To enhance monitoring, more than 320 CCTV cameras have been installed around the strong rooms, ensuring continuous surveillance and preventing any unauthorised access.
A comprehensive three-tier security arrangement has been deployed at all counting centres. The outer layer is manned by central paramilitary forces, followed by the Tamil Nadu Special Police in the second layer, while the innermost layer comprises armed reserve and local law and order personnel. In total, around 1,160 security staff have been deployed in shifts to maintain 24/7 vigilance.
During the inspection, officials reviewed constituency-wise preparations, security deployment and adherence to election protocols. Senior police and election officials were present to ensure that all arrangements meet the required standards.
Authorities stated that the robust security framework and monitoring systems are aimed at ensuring a transparent, secure and hassle-free counting process in the city.