Overview
- Counting begins at 8:00 am with postal ballots, followed by Electronic Voting Machines at 8:30 am with mandated VVPAT checks at five booths per constituency.
- Two-tier security is in place at 46 counting centres across 38 districts, with CAPF guarding inner perimeters, state police on outer cordons, 24/7 CCTV monitoring, and 106 outside companies deployed.
- Election authorities have arranged 4,372 counting tables staffed by supervisors, assistants and micro-observers, overseen by 243 Returning Officers, 243 Counting Observers and more than 18,000 counting agents.
- Restrictions announced for result day include a ban on victory processions, action against crowding near counting sites and FIRs for provocation or rumour, with schools in Patna closed for the day.
- Intelligence units flagged constituencies expected to be closely contested after exit polls, political rhetoric has sharpened, and the stakes follow a 67.13% turnout by 7.45 crore voters choosing among 2,616 candidates.