New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a QR-code-based photo identity card system to strengthen security at vote counting centres.
The move comes ahead of the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal, with results scheduled to be declared on May 4.
According to an ECI statement, booth-level officers and other authorised personnel arriving at counting centres will be issued QR-code photo ID cards. A three-tier security protocol will be followed: at the first and second checkpoints, security personnel will physically verify the photo ID issued by the Returning Officer.
At the third checkpoint, located closest to the counting hall, entry will be permitted only after the QR code is scanned. The QR-code IDs will be issued only to ECI-approved individuals, including Returning Officers and assistants, counting staff, technical personnel, candidates, and election and counting agents.
For media coverage, media centres will be set up near each counting venue, and journalists carrying official letters issued by the ECI will be allowed as per existing practice. The Commission said the system will be mandatory for future Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and directed district election officers and state chief electoral officers to make arrangements and deploy trained staff for smooth implementation.
