Guwahati: The Election Commission will debut a QR code-based photo identity card module on its ECINET platform during the counting of votes on May 4 for the Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry assembly elections, along with bypolls in seven constituencies across five states.The move aims to prevent the possibility of any unauthorized persons from entering counting centres.The commission stated that the new system, backed by a three-tier security mechanism, will be extended to all future Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.The robust three-tier security system has been prescribed for identity verification at counting centres. At the first and second tiers, photo identity cards issued by returning officers will be checked manually. At the innermost cordon near the counting hall, entry will be permitted only after successful verification through QR code scanning.The QR code-based photo identity cards will apply to all individuals, including returning officers, assistant returning officers, counting staff, technical personnel, candidates, election agents and counting agents, who are authorized by the ECI to enter counting centers and halls.The initiative is part of over 30 reforms, including the rollout of standardized QR code-based photo ID cards for booth-level officers (BLOs), introduced by the commission in the past year.A media center will also be set up near the counting halls in each center to facilitate authorized media persons. Their entry will continue to be permitted on the basis of authority letters issued by the commission.The commission added that district election officers and returning officers have been directed to make necessary arrangements for effective implementation of the system, including deployment of trained personnel at designated checkpoints to ensure seamless and secure access control.A total of 93 companies of the state armed police have been deployed across districts in the run-up to the counting day. Two additional CRPF companies will be on static duty while 85 assault groups will be mobilized to ensure smooth proceedings.As many as 25 companies of central armed police forces and 13 companies of the state armed police will be deployed in the innermost and second security cordons of the strong room. In addition, 5,981 counting officers, mostly state govt employees, and 2,348 micro observers from the central govt will be deployed across 40 counting centers in the state on the counting day.
