As voting concluded on Thursday, electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines were transferred to dedicated strong rooms in Madurai and Trichy districts, where they will remain securely stored until vote counting day.
Madurai District Arrangements
In Madurai district, a total of 3,695 ballot units and control units, along with 4,001 VVPAT machines, were secured in strong rooms across five counting zones for the 10 constituencies. The designated counting centres are as follows:
- TNAU (Agri College) for Melur and Madurai East constituencies
- Anna University for Sholavandhan and Usilampatti constituencies
- Thiagarajar College of Engineering for Madurai North and South constituencies
- Madura College for Madurai Central and West constituencies
- Govt Arts College for Thiruparankundram and Thirumangalam constituencies
Trichy District Arrangements
In Trichy district, 3,341 control units, 5,621 ballot units, and 3,619 VVPAT units allocated for the nine constituencies were moved to strong rooms at two counting centres throughout the night. The machines used in Manapparai, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli (West), Tiruchirappalli (East), and Thiruverumbur are stored at Jamal Mohamed College in Trichy. Those used in Lalgudi, Mannachanallur, Musiri, and Thuraiyur (SC) constituencies are stored at Oasys Institute of Technology in Pulivalam. In Trichy counting centres, 32 surveillance cameras have been installed for each assembly constituency.
Security Measures
Once stored in the strong rooms, EVM and VVPAT machines were closed and double-locked under the supervision of political representatives. One key is kept with the returning officer, while the other is with the assistant returning officer. All entry points of the strong rooms, including windows, have been sealed to prevent any access inside.
The entry points are under round-the-clock CCTV coverage and are constantly monitored. A log book is maintained by security personnel, recording the date, time, duration, and names of anyone approaching the strong rooms.
In addition to CCTV coverage, a three-tier security system has been implemented to ensure the safety of the strong rooms and prevent unauthorised entry. The first tier involves a 100-metre perimeter demarcated as a pedestrian zone. No person without a duly issued authority letter from the Election Commission of India (ECI), a photo ID card issued by the concerned District Election Officer (DEO), or a media pass is allowed to cross this cordon. The second tier is the gate of the counting premises, where frisking is conducted to ensure prohibited items such as matchboxes and arms are not carried inside. The third and inner cordon is at the door of the strong room. Apart from city and district police, CRPF and ITBP personnel have also been deployed for security.
Incidents in Trichy
In Trichy, members of the TVK party got into an argument with authorities and police as machines from the polling station at Madhuram Higher Secondary School in Trichy East were not moved to the strong room until around 1 am on Friday. Election officials denied allegations of any security breach and stated that the machines were moved smoothly and on time. During the sealing process at Jamal Mohamed College, an altercation broke out between police and members of the press over taking photographs. Officials from the district administration later pacified them.
