ECI | DD News

March 19, 2026 4:43 PM

ECI allows postal ballot voting for elderly, PwDs and service voters in Assembly polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced a series of measures to facilitate voting through postal ballots for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwDs), service voters and those on election duty in the upcoming Assembly elections. The Commission had earlier announced the schedule for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on March 15, along with bye-elections in six states. Notifications for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry were issue...

March 16, 2026 3:25 PM

ECI issues directions for strict inforcement of MCC in five states and UT

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directions for the strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) following the announcement of Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The Commission announced the election schedule for the five States and Union Territory on March 15. Notifications issued by the Election Commission and the respective governments of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry have been published in their official gazettes. With t...

March 16, 2026 3:20 PM

ECI enforces Model Code of Conduct, orders major bureaucratic reshuffle ahead of assembly polls in five states

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) following the announcement of Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Commission has also ordered a major bureaucratic reshuffle in West Bengal, replacing key police and administrative officials in a move aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. The election schedule was announced by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Ku...

February 25, 2026 10:50 AM

ECI, state poll commissioners adopt National Declaration 2026 to strengthen electoral roll coordination

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday concluded the National Round Table Conference with State Election Commissioners (SECs) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with participants adopting the National Declaration 2026 and resolving to deepen institutional cooperation in electoral management. The conference, held after a gap of 27 years, was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. In his inaugu...

February 18, 2026 4:08 PM

ECI announces March 16 polling for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 37 seats that will fall vacant in April 2026 across 10 States. The vacancies arise as the terms of 37 members of the Council of States elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana are set to expire in April 2026. In view of the impending retirements, the Commission has laid out a detaile...

December 30, 2025 7:48 PM

ECI revises Special Intensive Revision schedule for Uttar Pradesh

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released a revised schedule for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, with January 1, 2026 set as the qualification date. According to the revised timeline, the draft electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh will now be published on January 6, 2026. The period for filing claims and objections will remain open from January 6 to February 6, 2026. The Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh said that verification, dispos...

December 12, 2025 9:00 PM

ECI deploys Special Roll Observers for Intensive Electoral Roll Revision

The Election Commission of India has appointed Special Roll Observers to oversee the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in eight major states. The observers have been assigned to West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. According to the Commission, the observers have already commenced their work and will remain present in these states for two days each week until the publication of the final electoral rolls in February 2026....

December 1, 2025 8:01 PM

India to lead International IDEA in 2026 as ECI chair assumes global role

India will take over the chairmanship of International IDEA in December 2026, marking a global recognition of its electoral framework and democratic processes. The current Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, is slated to formally assume the chair on December 3, 2026, representing India on behalf of the Election Commission of India. Instituted in 1995, International IDEA is an inter-governmental organisation committed to promoting democracy and electoral assistance worldwide. It compris...

November 30, 2025 3:07 PM

ECI extends SIR deadlines by one week; final electoral roll on February 14

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday extended the schedule for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 States and Union Territories by seven days. The revision is being conducted with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date for enrolment. Under the revised timeline, the enumeration period - involving the collection and digitisation of voter forms - will now continue until December 11, 2025, instead of December 4. The rationalisation and re-arrangement o...

November 4, 2025 7:40 PM

International Election Visitors’ Programme 2025 launched in New Delhi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday inaugurated the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2025 at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi interacted with the 14 participants representing seven countries—France, South Africa, Belgium, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Colombia—during the inaugural session. Participants...