The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed all states and Union territories to provide Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) and voter assistance at every polling station for the upcoming 2026 general and bye-elections. The instruction follows the Commission’s announcement of the election schedule on March 15 for assembly polls in several states and bye-elections across six states. Chief Electoral Officers have been asked to equip all 218,807 polling stations with the prescribed facilities, with compliance to be strictly monitored by the ECI.
Under the ECI guidelines, Assured Minimum Facilities will include drinking water, shaded waiting areas, toilets with water, adequate lighting, ramps for persons with disabilities, standard voting compartments and clear signage. Seating will be provided at regular intervals to ease queuing and reduce wait-time discomfort for voters.
To improve voter awareness and convenience, four standardized Voter Facilitation Posters will be displayed at every polling station. These posters will show polling station details, the list of candidates, the voting procedure, the identification documents required and important voting guidelines in a clear, consistent format.
Every polling location will also have Voter Assistance Booths staffed by designated officials. These booths will help electors find their booth number and check electoral roll details, ensuring voters can confirm their registration and polling point before casting their votes.
As a voter-friendly step, the Commission has introduced a mobile phone deposit facility outside polling stations. Voters will be able to deposit switched-off phones securely before entering the polling area and retrieve them after voting.
The ECI underlined that these measures are mandatory and will be monitored for compliance. The Commission said the steps are intended to make voting more accessible, convenient and orderly for all electors during the 2026 polls.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/eci-mandates-assured-facilities-at-all-polling-stations-for-2026-elections-1363412-2026-03-22?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-03-22 11:55:00
