First randomisation of EVM-VVPATs completed in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry
The Election Commission said on 21 March 2026 that the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs has been completed for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry and for bye-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura, with lists shared with political parties.
Summary
EVMs are allotted to polling stations through a two-stage randomisation: first from district warehouses to Assembly Constituencies, then from the AC level to polling stations. District Election Officers carried out the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs that had passed First Level Checking (FLC) through the EVM Management System (EMS), in the presence of representatives of National and State recognised political parties. It has been completed for the general elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry and the bye-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura. Constituency-wise lists were shared with party representatives, and the machines will be kept in Assembly strong rooms in their presence.
Key facts
- Process
- Two-stage randomisation: district → AC, then AC → polling station
- Stage done
- First randomisation
- Where
- Assam, Kerala, Puducherry; bye-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, Tripura
- Eligible machines
- EVM-VVPATs that passed First Level Checking
- Tool
- EVM Management System (EMS)
- Transparency
- Done before recognised parties; lists shared with them
Practice MCQs 3 questions
In the first stage of EVM randomisation, EVMs are randomly allocated:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — From district warehouses to Assembly Constituencies
In the first stage EVMs move from district warehouses to ACs; in the second stage from AC level to polling stations.
Through which software system was the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs carried out in March 2026?
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Correct answer: D — EVM Management System (EMS)
District Election Officers carried out the first randomisation through the EVM Management System (EMS).
Consider the following about the first randomisation of EVM-VVPATs in March 2026: 1. Only machines that passed First Level Checking were included. 2. It was carried out in the presence of representatives of recognised political parties. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: only FLC-passed EVM-VVPATs were randomised, in the presence of representatives of National and State recognised parties.