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Transparent Process with Randomisation & Mock Polls Rolled Out
Pooja Srivastava | Anytime News Network |
The Election Commission of India has initiated a crucial phase in the ongoing electoral process for the 2026 Assembly Elections, with the commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase-I) starting from April 16, 2026. This step comes as part of preparations for constituencies going to polls on April 23.
The commissioning process is being carried out at various constituencies in the presence of contesting candidates, their authorised representatives, and General Observers to ensure complete transparency. This stage is vital in verifying the readiness and accuracy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems before polling day.
Following commissioning, a mock poll exercise will be conducted in 5% of randomly selected EVMs, where 1000 test votes will be cast. Candidates and their representatives are also allowed to conduct these mock polls themselves, reinforcing trust in the system.
Prior to commissioning, EVMs underwent a robust two-stage randomisation process using the EVM Management System (EMS). In the first stage, machines were randomly allocated from district warehouses to Assembly constituencies. In the second stage, allocation was done from constituency level to individual polling stations.
As per official data, Tamil Nadu has a total of 75,064 polling stations, while West Bengal (Phase-I) will see polling across 44,378 stations on April 23. The entire randomisation process was conducted in the presence of representatives from recognised national and state political parties, ensuring fairness and accountability.
Additionally, constituency-wise lists of EVMs and VVPATs from both stages of randomisation have been shared with political parties and candidates. These machines are now securely stored in designated strong rooms under strict supervision.
The Election Commission reiterated that these meticulous procedures are aimed at ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections, strengthening voter confidence in the democratic process.
