WB Election 2026: Election Commission Announces Major Changes for EVMs and Polling Booths
WB Election 2026: The Election Commission has already initiated its preparations for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Election in 2026. Multiple new blueprints have been finalized to make the voting process more modern, secure, and comfortable for the general public. The primary focus of these upcoming measures is to maintain maximum transparency and improve ground-level infrastructure.
Advanced Technology and Strict Surveillance
To prevent any malpractices, the upcoming election will see maximum utilization of technology. Webcasting has been made mandatory for 100 percent surveillance across all polling stations in the state. This means the live feed of every single booth will be directly monitored by the commission. Additionally, a significant change is coming to the EVM machines. To help voters easily identify their preferred candidates, clear color photographs will be attached next to the candidates’ names on the ballot units.
New Booth Layout and Women Empowerment
Keeping the massive number of voters in mind, more than 80,000 polling stations are being set up across the state. To manage the crowd effectively, no booth will be allocated more than 1,200 voters. Furthermore, 634 booths will be decorated as model polling stations. Setting a unique example of women empowerment, over 10,000 booths will be managed entirely by female polling personnel. It is reported that more than 60,000 female workers, including reserves, will be required for this massive undertaking.
Relief for Senior Citizens and PwD Voters
Special facilities have been announced for the elderly and Divyang (PwD) individuals alongside regular voters. Senior citizens over the age of 85 will once again get the opportunity to exercise their franchise from the comfort of their homes. On the other hand, wheelchairs and volunteers will be available at polling centers to safely escort physically challenged or CwSN voters to the booths. Also, BLOs will ensure the delivery of Voter Information Slips to every household.
Ground Reality of Infrastructure
The Election Commission’s guidelines strictly instruct ensuring proper drinking water and toilet facilities at every booth. However, doubts remain about how strictly these guidelines are followed on the ground. Experiences from previous elections show that in many cases, polling personnel have to clean toilets or arrange water themselves. Nevertheless, the administration proactively arranges water drums in areas facing acute water scarcity. It remains to be seen how successfully all these plans are executed in the upcoming election.
