The Election Commission has completed preparations for counting of votes for the Assam Legislative Assembly elections, with the exercise scheduled to begin at 8 am on May 4 across 40 centres, Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goyal said on Wednesday.
Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goyal said counting will begin at 8 am simultaneously at all designated centres located across 35 counting districts. While Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Jorhat will each have two counting centres, Nagaon will have three, reflecting the scale and logistical requirements of the exercise.
Goyal said the state has recorded its highest voter turnout compared to the last five Assembly elections, underscoring robust electoral participation. Among districts, Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Bongaigaon and South Salmara reported the highest polling percentages, while constituencies in Guwahati saw relatively lower turnout.
Providing a historical perspective, he noted that voter turnout stood at 75.16 per cent in 2001, 75.72 per cent in 2006, 76.05 per cent in 2011, 84.64 per cent in 2016 and 82.02 per cent in 2021.
Security arrangements for the counting process have been significantly strengthened. EVMs have been stored in strong rooms across districts under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. These facilities are being guarded by 25 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, with candidates’ authorised agents also present to monitor the premises.
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To ensure transparency and smooth conduct, 126 observers, one IAS officer for each constituency, have been appointed. Each counting table will be overseen by a designated supervisor. In total, 5,981 counting personnel and 2,348 micro-observers will be deployed during the process.
Goyal said recounting will be permitted only in cases where the margin of victory or defeat is extremely narrow. In such instances, postal ballots will be personally verified by the Returning Officer to ensure accuracy.
He also stressed that post-result victory celebrations must strictly adhere to law and order guidelines issued by the authorities, warning against any violations.
Highlighting participation trends, the CEO said around 7.3 million Gen Z voters in the 18–29 age group cast their votes in the election. He also pointed to inclusivity measures, noting that 15 polling stations were managed entirely by persons with disabilities.
With preparations complete and security tightened, the stage is set for a closely watched counting day that will determine the political course of the state for the next five years.
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