On counting day for the recent assembly polls, the Election Commission (EC) of India reported more than 6.8 million malicious hits targeting its online platforms, including the results portal, from both domestic and international sources. EC officials stated on Wednesday that these threats were effectively mitigated through robust cybersecurity measures.
The ECINET platform, which integrates over 40 different applications and portals related to various electoral functions, experienced an impressive average of 30 million hits per minute on counting day (May 4), culminating in a total of 983 million hits during the election days (April 9, 23, and 29).
Since its official launch in January 2026, ECINET has seen significant adoption, with 100 million downloads recorded to date. This platform’s beta version was utilized during the Bihar elections in November 2025, showcasing its early implementation.
Election Commission officials noted that ECINET played a crucial role in optimizing election procedures by enabling real-time monitoring, faster result reporting, and improving transparency throughout the recent elections held across five states and Union Territories, as well as in bypolls.
On counting day, the EC generated over 320,000 QR codes to ensure that only authorized personnel could enter the counting venues, thereby preventing unauthorized access. This QR code-based photo identity card system was utilized for the first time across all five states and Union Territories on counting day and is set to become a standard practice for future Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
