New Delhi, May 1 (TNT): Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a QR code–based Photo Identity Card system to strengthen security and prevent unauthorised entry at counting centres during elections.
The new system will be implemented from May 4, 2026, for vote counting in Assembly elections to Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, along with by-elections in seven Assembly constituencies across five states, the ECI said in a release here on Thursday.
The new System will subsequently be extended to all future Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.
Under the new mechanism, a ‘three-tier security protocol’ has been established.
The first two levels will involve manual verification of photo identity cards issued by Returning Officers, while entry at the innermost security layer near counting halls will be allowed only after successful QR code scanning.
The QR-based ID cards will be issued to all authorised personnel, including Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, counting staff, technical personnel, candidates, election agents and counting agents.
The Commission has also announced that media centres will be set up near counting halls to facilitate authorised journalists. Entry for media personnel will continue to be regulated through official authorisation letters as per existing guidelines.
Officials, including Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and Returning Officers, have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the system by deploying trained staff at designated checkpoints to maintain secure and seamless access control.
The initiative is part of a broader set of reforms introduced by the poll panel over the past year to enhance transparency, efficiency and security in the electoral process.
TNT KS
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