**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the commencement of EVM and VVPAT commissioning on April 16, 2026, for the General Elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase-I) scheduled for April 23, 2026. It details the transparent 2-stage randomization process and verification protocols mandated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Key requirements include the conduct of mock polls and the presence of political representatives during all stages of equipment handling.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Commissioning and Mock Polls**
* Commissioning of EVM-VVPATs for the April 23 polls began on April 16, 2026.
* A mandatory mock poll involving 1,000 votes will be conducted in 5% of randomly selected EVMs.
* Candidates or their representatives are permitted to perform these mock polls themselves.
* **EVM Randomization Process**
* A two-stage randomization is performed using the EVM Management System (EMS).
* **Stage 1:** District Election Officers (DEOs) randomly allocate units from district warehouses to Assembly Constituencies (AC).
* **Stage 2:** Returning Officers (ROs) randomly allocate units from the AC level to specific polling stations.
* The second randomization covers Tamil Nadu, West Bengal (Phase-I), and bye-elections in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
* **Transparency and Security Measures**
* All commissioning and randomization activities must occur in the presence of candidates, their agents, or General Observers.
* Constituency-wise lists of randomized EVMs/VVPATs are shared with all contesting candidates and recognized political parties.
* Post-randomization, units are stored in Assembly Strong Rooms in the presence of representatives from National and State recognized political parties.
* **Election Scale**
* Tamil Nadu features 75,064 polling stations.
* West Bengal (Phase-I) features 44,378 polling stations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Contesting Candidates and Authorized Representatives**
**Impact**
Candidates are provided with direct oversight of the machinery's integrity through observation and hands-on testing.
**Action Required**
Attend commissioning sessions and the second randomization; verify provided lists of randomized units; and participate in performing mock polls on selected EVMs.
**National and State Recognised Political Parties**
**Impact**
Parties serve as the primary witnesses to the initial allocation and secure storage of voting equipment at the district level.
**Action Required**
Observe the first randomization conducted by DEOs; receive constituency-wise lists of units; and remain present during the storage of equipment in Assembly Strong Rooms.
**District Election Officers (DEOs) and Returning Officers (ROs)**
**Impact**
These officials are responsible for the technical execution of the randomization and maintaining the transparency of the process.
**Action Required**
Execute the two-stage randomization via the EMS; facilitate the presence of stakeholders during commissioning; and ensure the distribution of randomized unit lists to all relevant parties.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The constitutional authority responsible for administering and regulating the election processes, including the scheduling and randomization of voting equipment.
General Election to Legislative Assemblies 2026: The primary electoral initiative driving the commissioning of EVM-VVPATs across various states and union territories.
EVM Management System (EMS): The digital system used for the two-stage randomization process to allocate Electronic Voting Machines and VVPATs to specific constituencies and polling stations.
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Gujarat, and Maharashtra: The specific states and union territory where the 2026 General Elections and bye-elections are scheduled to take place.
Election Commission
General Election to Legislative Assemblies and
bye-elections 2026
Commissioning of EVM-VVPATs for Tamil Nadu and West
Bengal Ph-I begins
Posted On: 16 APR 2026 4:23PM by PIB Delhi
1. Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to Legislative
Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections in 6
states on March 15,2026.
2. Commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs for constituencies going to polls on 23rd April commenced
today i.e., 16th April (Thursday) onwards at different constituencies, in the presence of the
candidates or their authorised representatives as well as General Observers.
3. Commissioning will be followed by a mock poll of 1000 votes in 5% of the EVMs randomly
selected by the candidates/ their representatives. They will also be allowed to do the mock polls
themselves.
4. Before commissioning, EVMs were allotted to their respective polling stations through a 2-stage
randomisation process through EVM management System. In the first stage, EVMs were randomly
allocated from District level warehouses to the Assembly Constituencies. In the second stage,
EVMs were randomly allocated from the AC level to the polling station level. The total number of
polling stations in Tamil Nadu is 75,064 and 44,378 in West Bengal (Phase-I) which are going to
polls on 23rd April.
5. As per the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the First Randomization was done
through EVM Management System (EMS) by the DEOs in the presence of the representatives of
National and State Recognised Political Parties.
6. Second randomisation of EVMs was completed through EVM Management System (EMS) by the
ROs in the presence of contesting candidates/their agents and General Observers for the General
Election to Legislative Assemblies of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase-I) and bye-elections in
Gujarat and Maharashtra going to polls on April 23, 2026.
7. Constituency wise lists of first randomized EVMs and VVPATs were shared with the representatives
of all National and State Recognised Political Parties at the respective district headquarters.
8. These EVMs and VVPATs were thereafter stored in respective Assembly Strong Rooms in the
presence of the representatives of National and State Recognized Political Parties.
9. The list of first and second randomized EVMs and VVPATs has also been shared with all the
contesting candidates.
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PK/GDH/RP
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