West Bengal Election 2026: The battle for the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 is now at its peak. People are registering their decision in EVMs on 142 seats including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Bhawanipur seat. The historic 93.19 percent voting in the first phase has made it clear how excited the people of Bengal are about who will hand over the keys to power this time. But the real question is after the voting. When voting machines come out of 41,001 polling stations, they are kept in a secure enclosure in the strong room. After all, it is very interesting for every citizen to know who holds the keys of this iron door and how 2,321 companies of central security forces guard these machines.

Strict process immediately after voting

As soon as the voting time ends, the crowd at the polling booth increases. The presiding officer posted there first closely examines the record of total votes recorded in the EVM. This process is kept transparent, so that there is no scope for any rigging. A verified copy is handed over to the polling agents of all the political parties present there. After this the EVM is sealed with utmost care. From here the journey of the machines starts towards the strong room, where the fate of democracy is kept safe for the next several days.

Who keeps the key to the strong room?

The key to a strong room does not depend on the whim or wish of any one person. As per security standards, all EVM machines in a district are commanded by the District Electoral Officer (DEO). Double lock system is installed in the strong room. Its key is kept safe under the supervision of the District Election Officer and the concerned Returning Officer. The rule is also that until the day of counting comes, this lock cannot be opened without the permission of the Election Commission and the presence of the representatives of the candidates.

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three-tier impenetrable maze of security

The security of a strong room is no less than that of a fort. It is divided into three different security zones. The responsibility of the first and foremost inner circle lies with the Central Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), who are deployed 24 hours a day just outside the door. The second circle is also guarded by the central forces, who keep an eye on the surrounding activities. The outermost security circle is the responsibility of the state police force, which works to prevent outside crowd or any unauthorized entry.

Candidates’ seal and CCTV security

To maintain transparency, the Election Commission gives the right to the candidates to put their seal on the strong room. When all the EVM machines are placed inside, the door is officially sealed and the representatives of the political parties can put their signatures and their seals on it. Apart from this, the entire campus is monitored live through CCTV surveillance. Many times the representatives of the candidates are given a screen from where they can sit outside and watch the strong room door live.

Tight security arrangements in Bengal elections

In view of the possibility of violence in this 2026 election, record security forces are deployed in entire Bengal including Kolkata. 273 companies have been appointed in Kolkata alone, so that there is no mistake in the transportation and safety of EVMs. Arrangements have been made for webcasting of every booth, so that every action from voting till the machines reach the strong room can be recorded. It is the personal responsibility of the District Election Officer to check the register of the strong room every day and match the log books of the security forces.

Why is the technology of double lock system important?

Double lock system simply means that no one officer has complete power. This ensures that no one can tamper with the strong room. Even the electrical wires are cut at the place where the machines are kept so that there is no fear of short circuit or any technical manipulation. From after the voting till the morning of counting, this strong room becomes such a secure island where not even a bird can hit and proper protocol is followed for the security of the keys.

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