Tamil Nadu Election Results: Counting to begin at 8 am under three-tier security
Votes for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections 2026 are set to be counted today, May 4, with counting scheduled to begin at 8.00 am. The Election Commission has established a three-tier security system at counting centres.
Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said the first tier is a 100-metre security perimeter with entry restricted to authorised personnel. The second tier at entry gates is managed by the State Armed Police, while the third tier covering counting halls and EVM strong rooms is handled by the Central Armed Police Forces.
A QR code-based Photo Identity Card system has been introduced to prevent unauthorised entry.
Votes from 75,064 polling stations and postal ballots will be counted at 62 centres. Counting will begin with postal ballots at 8.00 am, followed by EVM counting at 8.30 am. “Round-wise results of all Assembly constituencies will be announced… and the same will be reflected in the ECINET app.” A total of 10,545 personnel and 4,624 micro-observers have been deployed.
Polling for 234 constituencies was held on April 23.
The state is witnessing a three-cornered contest involving the ruling DMK led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, the AIADMK in alliance with the BJP, and actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
A total of 443 women are contesting in 2026, after nearly 1,000 nominations. In 2021, 413 women contested, but only 12 won. In 1991, 32 women were elected, dropping to nine in 1996, while in 1971 no women contested.
About 46% of women candidates are from urban centres such as Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli, though the gap between contesting and winning persists.