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As Bihar prepares to announce its election results today, many voters wonder how Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are secured and counted. A key question is: who holds the keys to the EVM strong rooms, and how is the counting process conducted?

What Happens After Voting Ends

Once voting concludes, the presiding officer verifies the vote records stored in each EVM. All candidates’ polling agents are provided with a verified copy of the records. After all EVMs arrive at the designated strong rooms, they are placed under strict security monitored by electoral officers. Multiple security layers and CCTV surveillance ensure the integrity of the machines.

What is a Strong Room?

A strong room is a secure space where EVMs are stored. Typically located in government schools or other protected premises, strong rooms have a single entrance and sealed windows. EVMs are transported to these rooms under heavy security, often accompanied by political party agents to ensure transparency.

Who Holds the Keys?

The responsibility for the strong room lies with the District Election Officer, assisted by election observers and senior officials. The double-lock system ensures no single individual has sole access:

• One key is held by the Returning Officer
• The other key is with the Assistant Officer

On counting day, the strong room is opened in the presence of all candidates or their representatives, with the process fully video recorded. EVMs are then transferred to the counting hall, where their seals and ID numbers are checked before the results are extracted.

How Votes Are Counted from EVMs

On counting day, the control unit’s result button is pressed. This instantly displays the candidate-wise votes stored in that unit. Each unit is processed in turn, ensuring every vote is counted accurately.

Bihar’s two-phase assembly election was held on 6th and 11th November 2025, recording a historic voter turnout of 67.13%, the highest in the state since 1951.

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