After the Exact poll and exit polls, the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly election and the declaration of results will take place on Saturday, February 8. Voting for the Delhi assembly elections to elect a 70-member House was held on February 1. The polling concluded with 57.89% turnout. Leaders and political parties are anxiously waiting for assembly election results. Major parties like Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and BJP have expressed optimism about their victory in the assembly elections. However, most exit polls have given an edge to the BJP.

The counting of votes for all 70 constituencies will begin at 8 AM. According to officials, everything has been ready for the counting procedure, including the security management. The Delhi election office has set up 19 centers across the city for the counting of votes on Feb 8.

The Election Commission of India(ECI) expects the first trends to emerge quickly once the counting starts. By 11 AM, a clear picture is expected to reveal which party the people of Delhi have chosen to govern them. And by after 12 pm counting is expected reach its final stage. Official announcement of results by the ECI will take place after 6 pm.

Where To Watch?

For those wanting to stay updated, election results can be followed on several platforms, with live updates from trusted news sources. Results will be available on the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, as well as on major news channels, which is offering real-time, comprehensive coverage with detailed live blogs.

70 Strong Rooms And Other Arrangements

After the polling electronic voting machines (EVMs) were securely stored in 70 strong rooms, each for one assembly constituency, under multi-layered security across 19 locations. The EVMs, contain the votes cast by over 60% of 1.56 crore voters. EVM were transported to the strong rooms of the respective constituencies from the polling stations under heavy security within hours of the conclusion of voting on Wednesday. Officials said the EVMs would be brought in batches to the counting tables on Saturday under the watchful eyes of the counting officials and security personnel.

According to various reports, a three-tier, round-the-clock security system was in place to safeguard the machines. Central Armed Paramilitary Forces and state armed police were deployed to secure the highly protected area.

The sealed doors of the strong rooms and the corridors of the building were under 24×7 CCTV surveillance. The strong rooms had a single entry and exit point, secured with a double lock. The opening and closing of the strong rooms were continuously videographed. A logbook was maintained to record visits by authorized officials, including general observers, district electoral officers, and police personnel.

Vehicles, including those of VIPs and officials, were not permitted to enter the building.

What is EVM?

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) make the voting process simple and efficient, allowing voters to press a button to select their preferred candidate. An EVM consists of two main parts: the control unit and the balloting unit, which are connected by a cable. While voters use the balloting unit to cast their votes, the control unit remains securely with the polling or presiding officer, ensuring a smooth and fair voting process.