New Delhi - The intricate dance of democracy's machinery has commenced. The Election Commission of India (ECI) began the commissioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units this week. This critical preparation phase is underway for upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, with polling slated for April 23. The process is unfolding concurrently in other states, including Assam.
The commissioning involves a rigorous multi-stage process designed to ensure the machines are election-ready.
This entails the random allocation of EVMs and VVPATs from district-level warehouses to specific Assembly constituencies. Subsequently, machines are further allocated from the constituency level to individual polling stations. This two-stage randomization, managed through an EVM management system, is a key step to preempt any manipulation. The ECI has emphasized that the process is being conducted in the presence of contesting candidates or their authorized representatives, alongside General Observers, a measure aimed at fostering transparency. Lists detailing the first and second randomized batches of machines have been shared with all participating candidates.
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Phase I Elections Underway
For Tamil Nadu, the election will cover 234 Assembly seats, while West Bengal will see voting in 152 Assembly constituencies during its first phase. This marks a significant undertaking for the ECI, with a substantial number of polling stations involved. Tamil Nadu has a total of 75,064 polling stations, and for the first phase in West Bengal, 44,378 stations are prepared for the April 23rd ballot.
Regional Preparations
Beyond the immediate focus on Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the commissioning process is also actively occurring in other regions. In Assam, the Kamrup district has initiated the same procedures for its upcoming Assembly General Election. This process in Kamrup began following directives issued on March 27, 2026. Reports indicate the involvement of technical support from engineers of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited in some areas, ensuring the technical integrity of the machines. The schedule for these commissioning events has been communicated to candidates and political party representatives.
