The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes today for the West Bengal assembly polls and put in place measures to ensure strict adherence to health and safety protocols, amid a raging second wave of COVID-19, an official said. A three-tier security arrangement has been in place at 108 counting centres where polled electronic voting machines (EVMs), along with voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) units have been kept in strong rooms, he said.

At least 292 observers have been appointed and 256 companies of central forces deployed at the counting centres spread across 23 districts of the state that voted in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. South 24 Parganas district has the maximum number of counting centres at 15, while Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jhargram have one each.