ECI orders Assured Minimum Facilities at all 2,18,807 polling stations for 2026 polls
On 22 March 2026 the Election Commission directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure Assured Minimum Facilities and voter assistance at each of the 2,18,807 polling stations for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and the bye-elections.
Summary
The Election Commission of India, which announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections in 6 states on 15 March 2026, directed CEOs to equip each of the 2,18,807 polling stations with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF). These include drinking water, a shaded waiting area, a toilet with water, adequate lighting, a ramp of proper gradient for PwD electors, a standard voting compartment and signage, along with benches in queues. Four standardised Voter Facilitation Posters will be displayed at every polling station, Voter Assistance Booths staffed by BLOs will help electors find their booth and serial number, and a mobile phone deposit facility will be provided outside the polling station entrance. The Commission said AMF provisioning is mandatory and will be monitored.
Key facts
- Polling stations
- 2,18,807
- Polls
- Assembly: Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal; bye-elections in 6 states
- AMF
- Drinking water, shade, toilet, lighting, PwD ramp, voting compartment, signage, queue benches
- Voter Facilitation Posters
- Four, standardised
- Other
- Voter Assistance Booths; mobile phone deposit outside entrance
- Status
- Mandatory, monitored for compliance
Practice MCQs 2 questions
How many standardised Voter Facilitation Posters must be displayed at each polling station in the 2026 polls, as per the ECI's direction of 22 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Four
Four uniform Voter Facilitation Posters will show polling station details, list of candidates, do's and don'ts, approved ID documents and the voting process.
Consider the following about the ECI's directions of 22 March 2026 for polling stations: 1. Provision of Assured Minimum Facilities is advisory and left to the discretion of CEOs. 2. Voters can deposit their switched-off mobile phones with a volunteer outside the polling station entrance. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
The ECI said AMF provisioning is mandatory and will be monitored, so statement 1 is wrong; a mobile phone deposit facility will be provided outside the entrance.