The Election Commission has been in Assam for the past two days to review poll preparedness ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ganesh Kumar said on Wednesday, while announcing a series of voter-centric measures designed to streamline the voting process.
He outlined the structure of Assam’s 126 Assembly constituencies, noting that 98 of them are classified as general seats, 19 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 9 are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). This reflects the state’s diverse demographic and electoral makeup, which requires tailored logistical planning.
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The Chief Electoral Commissioner placed special emphasis on the recently concluded special review of the state’s electoral rolls, reiterating that the primary and consistent objective of this intensified exercise is to strictly ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the rolls, while at the same time preventing the inclusion of any ineligible person, thus preserving the fundamental integrity of the entire electoral framework.
During the special audit process, the draft electoral register registered 2.52 crore voters. After careful verification, verification of claims, and necessary deletions or additions, the final electoral list now includes 2.49 crore voters, poised to shape the political future of Assam.
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Speaking to the media on the review of election preparedness in Assam, the Chief Election Commissioner explained the significant technological upgrades coming to electronic voting machines (EVMs), categorically stating that this time, color photographs of all the contesting candidates will be prominently displayed, complemented by their names and serial numbers presented in a much larger font for easier recognition and selection, especially for the benefit of senior citizens, visually impaired voters and first-time participants.
“This time, color photographs of the candidates will be displayed on the electronic voting machines, and their names and serial numbers will be displayed in larger font. We have also set a cap of 1,200 voters per polling station. For the first time, voters in Assam will be able to keep their mobile phones at the entry point of the voting station,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Central Election Commission Ganesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, held a detailed and comprehensive review meeting in Guwahati on Tuesday to assess poll readiness for the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections.
On the first day of the two-day review visit, the Election Commission of India (ECI) met representatives of recognized national and state political parties and sought their suggestions, feedback and recommendations on smooth conduct of elections across the state, according to an official statement.
The political parties that attended the meeting included Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).
The Commission interacted with each of the political parties and gave them the opportunity to present their opinions, concerns and proposals to ensure that the upcoming elections in the country are held in a transparent and impartial manner.
Assam is scheduled to go to the polls in the first half of 2026. (ANI)
