New Delhi, Mar 31(TNT): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has completed key stages of the randomisation process of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the ongoing Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, as well as bye-elections in six states.
The poll body had earlier announced the election schedule on March 15, 2026.
According to the ECI, EVMs are allocated to polling stations through a two-stage randomisation process using the EVM Management System (EMS) to ensure transparency and fairness.
In the first stage, EVMs are randomly allocated from district-level warehouses to Assembly constituencies.
This process was carried out by District Election Officers (DEOs) in the presence of representatives of recognised national and state political parties.
Around 8.85 lakh units of EVMs—comprising Ballot Units, Control Units and VVPATs—were allocated during this stage.
In the second stage, EVMs are randomly assigned from the constituency level to individual polling stations. This process is conducted by Returning Officers (ROs) in the presence of contesting candidates.
The second randomisation has been completed for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, along with bye-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura, which are scheduled to go to polls on April 9, 2026.
The ECI said that lists of the first and second randomised EVMs and VVPATs will be shared with all contesting candidates to ensure transparency.
The second randomisation for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections, along with bye-elections in the remaining states, will be carried out after the last date for withdrawal of candidature, as per established procedures.
TNT KS
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