The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a QR code-based verification system for regulating access to counting halls on May 4, when the election results will be declared. This initiative aims to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering counting centers, as stated in an official announcement from the Commission.
The QR code system will be employed in the recent polls across Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry, with plans to extend it to future Lok Sabha elections and state/UT assembly polls. A three-tier security mechanism has been established for verifying identities at counting centers. The first and second tiers will involve manual checks of photo identity cards issued by the respective returning officers. The innermost security layer will permit entry only after successful verification via QR code scanning.
The new photo identity cards utilizing QR codes will be issued to various authorized personnel, including returning officers, assistant returning officers, counting staff, technical personnel, candidates, election agents, and counting agents. This initiative is part of over 30 measures taken by the ECI over the last year, which includes the introduction of standardized QR code-based photo ID cards for booth level officers (BLOs).
A media center will be established near the counting halls to facilitate accredited media personnel. Media access will continue to be granted based on authorization letters issued by the ECI, in accordance with existing guidelines.
District election officers and returning officers have been instructed to make necessary arrangements for the effective implementation of this QR code system, including deploying trained personnel at designated checkpoints to ensure secure access control. All chief electoral officers, district election officers, returning officers, and assistant returning officers are expected to strictly adhere to the Commission’s directives to maintain high standards of transparency, security, and efficiency during the counting process, according to an ECI spokesperson.
