New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday, March 22, 2026, issued a comprehensive set of directives to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal to ensure a “seamless and pleasant” voting experience. With 2,18,807 polling stations set to host 17.4 crore voters next month, the Commission has mandated the strict implementation of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) and introduced a new mobile phone deposit service to enhance voter convenience.
Under the new guidelines, each polling station must be equipped with essential AMFs, including potable drinking water, shaded waiting areas, and toilets with water facilities. To improve accessibility, the ECI has ordered the installation of ramps with proper gradients for PwD electors and the provision of benches at regular intervals in queues. Furthermore, the Commission has introduced a standardized mobile phone deposit facility outside the entrance of every station. Voters will be permitted to hand over their switched-off devices to designated volunteers and collect them immediately after casting their ballots, addressing a long-standing logistical challenge for urban voters.
To bolster voter education, the ECI has directed the prominent display of four uniform Voter Facilitation Posters (VFP) at every booth. These posters will provide standardized information on candidate lists, polling station details, approved identification documents, and a step-by-step guide to the voting process. Additionally, Voter Assistance Booths (VABs), staffed by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), will be established at every location to help electors quickly identify their booth and serial numbers in the electoral rolls.
The announcement comes as political activity intensifies across the five regions. Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are scheduled to vote in a single phase on April 9, 2026. Tamil Nadu will follow with a single-phase poll on April 23, while West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for all states and the concurrent bye-elections in six states is set for May 4, 2026. The ECI emphasized that compliance with these facilities is mandatory and will be monitored through field functionaries to ensure all works are completed well before the commencement of polling.
