In Tamil Nadu, the counting of votes for the Legislative Assembly Elections 2026 commenced at 8 am under stringent security protocols. The Election Commission of India has established a regulated procedure for opening strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units are stored. Armed personnel and CCTV surveillance ensured a secure environment, with live feeds accessible to candidates and their representatives. Before unlocking the strong rooms, officials verified seals to prevent tampering, allowing candidates to inspect and record their satisfaction. Once verified, the strong rooms were opened in the presence of observers and political representatives. The EVMs and VVPAT units were escorted to counting halls under strict security. A three-tier security system was deployed at all counting centres, including a restricted perimeter and a new QR code-based identification system for personnel. Counting will begin with postal ballots followed by EVMs, with results updated on the ECINET app. A total of 10,545 personnel and 4,624 micro-observers have been assigned to ensure a credible counting process.