Guwahati, March 15: Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections across five regions, with polling in Assam set to take place on April 9 in a single phase. Votes for all states will be counted on May 4.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said voters in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will cast their ballots on the same day in single-phase polls. Elections in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23, while West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
The announcement followed a review meeting of the Commission on March 11, during which officials finalised the phase-wise polling plan for the five poll-bound regions.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining credible voter lists, Kumar said “pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of any democracy.” He noted that a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was conducted under Article 326 of the Constitution of India to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded while preventing ineligible names from being included.
Kumar also congratulated Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, District Election Officers and other poll officials for completing what he described as a “massive democratic exercise”.
Ahead of announcing the poll schedule, the Commission visited all the poll-bound states, including Assam, to review preparations. During these visits, officials held consultations with recognised political parties and sought suggestions on the conduct of elections.
The CEC said meetings were also held with District Electoral Officers, Superintendents of Police, Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General and nodal officers of enforcement agencies to review law-and-order preparedness. Separate discussions were conducted with Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of the respective states and the Union Territory.
The Commission said more than 2.18 lakh polling stations will be set up across the five regions, most of them in rural areas, with the average number of electors per polling station kept below 900.
To ensure transparency and smooth conduct of polling, 100 per cent webcasting will be implemented at polling stations. Model polling stations, booths managed by women and polling stations run by persons with disabilities — referred to as “divyang” — will also be established.
Kumar noted that the electorate includes a significant number of voters aged 85 and above, along with several centenarians registered across the five regions, including Assam.
The upcoming election will determine the composition of the next Assam Legislative Assembly, with polling in the state scheduled alongside Kerala and Puducherry ahead of the nationwide counting of votes on May 4.
