Guwahati, December 7, 2025: With preparations underway for the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly elections, a full-day workshop on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems was conducted today in Guwahati. Senior officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Election Department of Assam, and representatives from technical agencies led the session, which focused on strengthening operational readiness and ensuring strict adherence to electoral protocols.
District Election Officers (DEOs) and Deputy District Election Officers (DDEOs) from across the state attended the workshop, which included extensive demonstrations and procedural briefings. The initiative forms a key component of the election preparedness framework ahead of the forthcoming polls.
In a statement issued at the conclusion of the workshop, the Election Department of Assam noted, “A comprehensive full-day workshop on First Level Checking of EVMs and VVPATs was successfully conducted today in Guwahati for all District Election Officers and Deputy District Election Officers/FLC Supervisors of Assam as part of the preparedness process for the ensuing General Elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly in 2026.”
Representatives confirmed that First Level Checking (FLC) will begin on December 11, 2025, and continue in phases until January 10, 2026, across 35 districts. Recognized political parties will be notified and invited to participate in the FLC process, which will be carried out in their presence to uphold transparency and public trust.
Throughout the session, ECI officials emphasized compliance with established handling and storage guidelines for EVMs. Transparency measures, documentation protocols, and supervisory responsibilities were reiterated to ensure consistency and accountability.
The workshop was presided over by Maneesh Garg, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, and Anurag Goel, Chief Electoral Officer of Assam. Also present were PC Mandal, Deputy General Manager of Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL), and Sulakshana Borpatragohain, Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Assam. Technical experts from ECIL, Hyderabad, provided hands-on guidance to the attendees.
Presentations during the workshop covered machine functionality, security protocols, verification procedures, and field management guidelines. Officials indicated that additional training and monitoring activities will continue in preparation for the elections.
The Election Department reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, efficient, and technologically secure electoral process for the 2026 Assembly elections.
