Sealed electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) were transported to strong rooms across the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Erode on Friday. These strong rooms will serve as the counting centers on May 4, and they are under round-the-clock security until the counting process concludes.
Security Arrangements in Salem
In Salem, convoys carrying EVMs arrived with armed escorts. The movement of these vehicles from polling stations to the strong room was tracked using GPS technology. A three-layer security system has been implemented at the strong room. The Central Reserve Armed Police Forces guard the inner perimeter, while the Tamil Nadu Special Police and local police secure the compound and entry points. Additionally, cadres from the DMK and AIADMK are stationed outside to monitor the proceedings.
Namakkal's Vigilance Measures
In Namakkal, the strong rooms are kept under floodlights at night to ensure visibility. District officials maintain detailed logs of every entry and exit. Authorities have stated that only authorized personnel will be allowed inside the strong room, and party representatives can only observe from outside.
Dharmapuri's Remote Area Operations
In Dharmapuri, voting machines from remote hill villages were brought to the strong rooms after polling. Armed personnel patrol the compound, and CCTV footage is monitored live at the control room. Party workers remain outside the barricades to observe developments.
Krishnagiri's Tamper-Proof Setup
In Krishnagiri, officials have made arrangements to prevent any tampering. The strong room is under heavy guard, with armed police at the innermost perimeter and local police regulating access. Cadres from DMK, AIADMK, and PMK are stationed outside to ensure transparency.
Erode's Dual-Lock Security
In Erode, the strong rooms are secured with a dual-lock system. One key is held by the Election Commission, and the other by district officials. Armed patrols and CCTV surveillance are in place, while party representatives are stationed outside.
