EC Tightens Post Poll Guidelines for West Bengal Assembly Elections

The Election Commission has issued a fresh and stricter set of post poll guidelines for the West Bengal Assembly elections, tightening procedures for handling surveillance footage and camera data after voting concludes.

According to senior officials, the move aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and secure management of election data , particularly CCTV and webcasting recordings from polling stations.

Under the revised rules, SD cards used in polling booth cameras cannot be removed immediately after voting ends . Only authorized officials will be allowed to dismantle the camera equipment, which must remain under the supervision of the sector officer until the process is completed.

The Commission has also directed that SD cards can be removed only at a designated Data Collection and Receiving Centre , and this must be done in the presence of the Assistant Returning Officer to ensure proper oversight.

All video footage captured during polling must be preserved securely and systematically stored , with strict instructions to prevent any tampering or mishandling of data.

In another key instruction, no member of the polling party or Booth Level Officer (BLO) will be allowed to leave the polling station until the entire camera system has been fully dismantled and officially handed over.

Meanwhile, preparations for the next phase of polling are underway. A trial run of webcasting for the second phase will begin on Friday at 10 am and will be conducted in three shifts, officials said.

The first phase of the 294 member West Bengal Assembly elections was held on Thursday. The second phase is scheduled for April 29, while vote counting will take place on May 4 .

The new guidelines reflect the Commission’s focus on strengthening electoral monitoring systems and ensuring complete integrity in the handling of digital polling records.