Gazette Notification for use of EVMs VVPATs in Bye election to 24 Bagalkot and 107 Davanagere South ACs 2026

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NOTIFICATION No. DPAR 08 CHUSAVI 2026, Bengaluru, Dated: 15th March, 2026.

The following Notification No. 576/3/EVM/2026/SDR-Vol.-I, dated: 15th March, 2026 of the

Election Commission of India is published here under for general information:

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi – 110001 No.576/3/EVM/2026/SDR-Vol.-I Dated: 15th March, 2026 DIRECTION

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 current general election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and bye elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies in 6 States (as per Annexure-1) announced vide the Election Commission’s Press Notes No. ECI/PN/029/2026 and ECI/PN/030/2026 both dated 15th, March 2026, and is satisfied that sufficient number of Electronic

(1)R.N.I. No. KARBIL/2001/47147 POSTAL REGN. No. RNP/KA/BGS/2202/2017-19 Licensed to post without prepayment WPP No. 297 2 Voting Machines (EVMs) and Printers for printing Paper Trail [Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

(VVPAT)] are available for taking the poll in the above said Assembly 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 all the Assembly Constituencies in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and 8 Assembly Constituencies in 6 States (as per Annexure-1) to be notified on 16.03.2026, 30.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 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.

By order, (S.B.JOSHI) Principal Secretary Election Commission of India (MADHU.A.C) Under Secretary to Government D.P.A.R (Elections).

Annexure-1 Sl.

Name of State Number and Name of the AC No.

1. 223-Rahuri AC Maharashtra

2. 201-Baramati AC

3. Goa 21-Ponda AC

4. 24-Bagalkot AC Karnataka

5. 107 Davanagere South AC

6. Nagaland 28-Koridang(ST) AC

7. Tripura 56-Dharmanagar AC

8. Gujarat 111-Umreth AC [ ಮುದ(cid:206)ಕರು (cid:178)ಾಗೂ ಪ(cid:206)(cid:144)ಾಶಕರು:- ಸಂಕಲ(cid:163)ಾ(cid:297)(cid:144)ಾ(cid:312)ಗಳ(cid:133), ಕ(cid:163)ಾ(cid:143)ಟಕ (cid:170)ಾಜ(cid:205)ಪತ(cid:206), ಸ(cid:144)ಾ(cid:143)(cid:312) (cid:144)ೇಂದ(cid:206) ಮುದ(cid:206)(cid:158)ಾಲಯ, (cid:166)ೆಂಗಳ(cid:136)ರು