The Election Commission of India has announced the commencement of the nomination process for the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam. Candidates can file their nomination papers from today until March 23 at the offices of their respective Deputy Commissioners, between 11 AM and 1 PM.
According to the schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on March 24, while the final date for withdrawal of candidatures has been fixed as March 26. Election campaigning will continue until 5 PM on April 7, and polling across the state will take place on April 9.
Assam has a total electorate of 2,50,21,413 voters, including 1,25,16,591 men and 1,25,04,501 women, reflecting an almost equal gender distribution. The voter list also includes 321 individuals registered under the third gender category, 6,28,093 voters aged between 18 and 19, and 2,482 voters who are above 100 years of age.
For the conduct of the elections, the Commission has set up 31,486 polling stations throughout the state. Among the constituencies, Dalgaon has the highest number of voters at 3,17,110, while Amri has the lowest with 1,00,494. In terms of polling stations, Mankachar has the highest number at 402, whereas Dotoma has the fewest with 146.
To ensure security during the election process, around 200 companies of police forces will be deployed across Assam. Strict surveillance will be maintained at state and district borders, and CCTV cameras will monitor polling locations. Licensed firearm holders have also been instructed to deposit their weapons with the police.
The Commission has introduced several steps to maintain transparency in the electoral process. Citizens have been advised not to carry more than Rs 15,000 in cash without a valid reason, and any seizure exceeding Rs 10 lakh will be investigated by the Income Tax Department.
To assist voters, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will display coloured photographs of candidates to help with identification. Mobile phones will not be permitted inside the voting compartment in order to maintain the secrecy of the ballot. A dedicated helpline (6026900682) has also been established for complaints, including those related to AI-generated objectionable videos.
In addition, the Commission has deployed flying squads, installed CCTV cameras at polling stations and border check posts, and will closely monitor the entire process to ensure that voting is conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner.
