A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place in four designated counting centres where Electronic Voting Machines and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units used in all 2,590 polling booths across the nine Assembly constituencies are stored.

The materials were moved to the respective counting centres and the process was completed in the early hours of Friday. Subsequently, all EVMs along with VVPAT units were placed in Assembly-wise strong rooms, and the doors were sealed in the presence of District Election Officer Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar, general observers, and representatives of candidates.

While the counting centres for Cuddalore and Kurinjipadi assembly constituencies will be the Government Periyar Arts College, the counting centres for Thittakudi (SC) and Vriddhachalam constituencies will be Government Kolanjipappar Arts College in Vriddhachalam.

The counting centre for Panruti and Neyveli will be at Anna University constituent college campus in Panruti while the counting centres for Chidambaram, Bhuvanagiri and Kattumannarkoil (SC) constituencies will be at Government Arts College in C. Mutlur.

Personnel of the Tamil Nadu Special Police, Armed Reserve, and the respective district police personnel have been deployed at the centres. The outer perimeter was guarded by the District Police, the middle perimeter by the Armed Reserve, and the inner perimeter by paramilitary personnel.

The strong rooms are under continuous CCTV surveillance, with live feeds monitored round the clock. Basic amenities such as drinking water and toilet facilities besides shamiana have been provided at the counting centres for the benefit of candidates and their agents.

Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.