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Core Purpose

The Election Commission of India specifies specific Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, and Assam for the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) printers for recording votes in bye-elections.

Detailed Summary

The Election Commission of India, exercising powers under Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, has issued Direction O.N. 33(E) on 8th September, 2026. This direction specifies the 35-Madurantakam (SC) and 101-Dharapuram (SC) Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu, the 09-Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency in Puducherry, the 70-Rejinagar and 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal, and the 09-Nagaon Parliamentary Constituency in Assam as the constituencies where votes shall be given and recorded using EVMs and VVPAT printers. These constituencies are part of bye-elections announced via the Election Commission's Press Note No. ECI/PN/114/2026 dated 07.09.2026, and are to be formally notified on 09.09.2026. The Commission is satisfied that sufficient EVMs and VVPAT Printers are available, polling personnel are well-trained, and electors are conversant with their operation. Additionally, the Election Commission approves the design of EVMs and VVPAT Printers developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore, and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad, for use in all constituencies.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-08092026-276059 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 33] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026/BHADRA 17, 1948 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)] ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA DIRECTION New Delhi, the 8th September, 2026 O.N. 33(E).— Whereas, Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, provides that the giving and recording of votes by voting machines in such manner as may be prescribed, may be adopted in such constituency or constituencies as the Election Commission of India may, having regard to the circumstances of each case, specify; and 2. Whereas, as per the proviso to Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, a printer with a drop box of such design, as may be approved by the Election Commission of India, may also be attached to voting machine for printing a paper trail of the vote, in such constituency or constituencies or parts thereof as the Election Commission of India may direct; and 3. Whereas, the Election Commission has considered the circumstances in the current bye-elections to the 35- Madurantakam (SC) and 101-Dharapuram (SC) Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu, 09-Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency in Puducherry, 70-Rejinagar and 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal and 09-Nagaon Parliamentary Constituency in Assam announced vide the Election Commission's Press Note No. ECI/PN/114/2026 dated 07.09.2026, and is satisfied that sufficient number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Printers for printing Paper Trail [Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)] are available for taking the poll in the aforesaid Constituencies. The polling personnel are well trained in efficient handling of EVMs and 'VVPAT Printers' and the electors are also fully conversant with the operation of the EVMs and the VVPAT Printers; 4. Now, therefore, the Election Commission of India, in exercise of its powers under the said Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, hereby specifies the 35-Madurantakam (SC) and 101-Dharapuram (SC) Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu, 09- Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency in Puducherry, 70-Rejinagar and 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal and 09-Nagaon Parliamentary Constituency in Assam to be notified on 09.09.2026 as the constituencies in which the votes shall be given and recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers in the manner prescribed, under the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and the supplementary instructions issued by the Election Commission from time to time on the subject. 5. The Election Commission also hereby approves the design of EVMs and VVPAT Printers as developed by the Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad, which shall be attached to the said machines, to be used for the giving and recording of votes in all the Constituencies. [F. No. 576/3/EVM/2026/SDR-Vol.-II] By Order, S.B.JOSHI, Principal Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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