**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 165 Additional Counting Observers and 77 Police Observers for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections to ensure a secure and transparent counting process. These officials will oversee law and order and assist in constituencies with multiple counting halls under the direct superintendence of the ECI. Key requirements include the use of QR code-based identification for entry and strict protocols for result verification and mobile phone restrictions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Observer Deployment and Mandate**
* 165 Additional Counting Observers have been assigned to assist in 165 Assembly Constituencies that contain more than one Counting Hall.
* 77 Police Observers are deployed to monitor security and law and order arrangements around Counting Centres.
* All observers are deemed to be on deputation to the ECI, functioning under its direct control as per Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* **Security and Access Control**
* Police Observers must oversee external security but are strictly prohibited from entering the Counting Hall under any circumstances.
* Entry to centers is restricted to individuals holding a QR code-based Photo ID issued by the Returning Officer (RO) via the ECINet module.
* Only the Counting Observer and the Returning Officer are permitted to carry mobile phones inside the Counting Hall.
* **Counting and Verification Procedures**
* Counting Supervisors are required to prepare Form 17C-II (counting results) in the presence of Counting Agents.
* Form 17C-II must be shared with Counting Agents for their signatures; the process can be repeated upon request.
* Micro-Observers at each table must independently record results from the Control Unit display and submit them to the Counting Observer for cross-verification at the end of each round.
**Impact Analysis**
**Returning Officers (ROs)**
**Impact**
ROs are responsible for the administrative management of personnel and the issuance of secure credentials.
**Action Required**
Must issue Identity Cards and QR code-based Photo IDs for all counting personnel, candidates, and agents through the dedicated ECINet module.
**Counting Personnel, Candidates, and Agents**
**Impact**
These stakeholders are subject to strict entry protocols and procedural requirements during the counting process.
**Action Required**
Must obtain and carry QR code-based Photo IDs for entry; Counting Agents must sign Form 17C-II to verify results.
**Police Observers**
**Impact**
Charged with maintaining a secure, intimidation-free environment surrounding the Counting Centres.
**Action Required**
Must coordinate with counting observers and election machinery to oversee security while ensuring they do not enter the Counting Hall.
**Micro-Observers**
**Impact**
Act as an independent layer of verification for the accuracy of the counting process.
**Action Required**
Must independently note results from Control Unit displays and handover records to the Counting Observer for cross-verification.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulatory body responsible for deploying observers and ensuring secure, transparent counting proceedings for the elections.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The legislative framework, specifically Section 20B, used by the ECI to appoint observers with powers of superintendence over the counting process.
West Bengal: The specific state where the 2026 General Election to the Legislative Assembly is being conducted and where the observers are deployed.
Article 324 of the Constitution of India: The constitutional provision that empowers the ECI to conduct elections and appoint officials for their supervision.
Form 17C-II: The official document used to record counting results from Control Units, requiring verification and signatures from agents to ensure transparency.
Election Commission
ECI deploys Additional Counting Observers and
Police Observers in West Bengal
Posted On: 02 MAY 2026 3:53PM by PIB Delhi
1. Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 165 Additional Counting Observers to
assist Counting Observers and 77 Police Observers to strengthen security and oversee law &
order arrangements around Counting Centres for the ongoing General Election to the
Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026.
2. The Additional Counting Observers and Police Observers have been deployed to ensure that
the counting proceedings are conducted in a secure, peaceful, intimidation-free and
transparent environment.
3. These appointments have been made in exercise of the powers conferred upon ECI under
Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 20B of the Representation of the People
Act, 1951. During this period, the Observers shall be deemed to be on deputation to the
Commission and will function under its superintendence and control.
4. Additional Counting Observers have been appointed to assist the Counting Observers for 165
Assembly Constituencies which have more than one Counting Hall.
5. Police Observers will oversee the security and law and order arrangements around the
Counting Centres of the ACs assigned to them and ensure that the security arrangements
around the Counting Centres are as per the Commission’s instructions. However, the Police
Observers shall not enter the Counting Hall on the day of counting of votes under any
circumstance.
6. The Police Observers will function in close coordination with the Counting Observers and
other election machinery deployed for the counting process.
7. Identity Cards for ROs, counting personnel, candidates and their agents shall be issued by the
Returning Officer (RO) through a dedicated module in ECINet.
8. Entry into the counting centers shall be strictly based on the QR code-based Photo ID issued
through ECINET by the ROs for Counting personnel, candidates and their agents.
9. It has also been directed that no person, except the Counting Observer and the Returning
Officer, is permitted to carry a mobile phone inside the Counting Hall.
10. Form 17C-II containing the results of the counting from the Control Units will be prepared
by the Counting Supervisors in the presence of Counting Agents and will be shared with the
Counting Agents for their signatures. This process will be repeated if the Counting Agents
so desire.
11. Micro-Observers deployed at each table will also independently note down the result from
the CU display and handover to the Counting Observer at the end of each round for cross-
verification.
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