Election Commission Steps Up Preparations for 2027 Assembly Polls in Five States; EVM Checks Begin

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified preparations for the Assembly elections scheduled in 2027 in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, with officials beginning assessments of electoral readiness and first-level checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), according to the supplied report.

The preparations come amid continuing political controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have raised concerns about the voter-list revision process, while the Election Commission is proceeding with administrative preparations for the next round of Assembly elections.

According to the report, the Commission is expected to complete officials' preliminary assessments by November 15, 2026, followed by visits involving the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners. Those visits are expected to conclude by December 15. However, these dates should be treated as reported expectations, not an official announcement of the election schedule.

No confirmed election dates have been announced in the information provided. The actual schedule will be established when the Election Commission issues its formal notification.

When will the 2027 Assembly election dates be announced?

The election schedule is expected to become clearer after the Election Commission completes its assessments of poll preparedness. A recent Times of India report said the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are likely to take place in February 2027, with the Commission planning a comprehensive review of the state's preparations.

According to the timeline described in the supplied report: By November 15, 2026: Preliminary assessments of election preparedness are expected to be completed.

By December 15, 2026: Visits by the Election Commission's senior leadership are expected to conclude.

After December 15: The election announcement could follow, depending on the Commission's final decision.

These are reported timelines, not confirmed deadlines. The Election Commission has not formally announced the 2027 Assembly election dates in the sources reviewed for this article.

In the previous election cycle, the Commission announced the schedules for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur on January 8, 2022. Polling subsequently took place between February and March.

EVM and VVPAT checks begin ahead of the elections

A key part of the preparations is the First Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.

According to the Election Commission's published guidelines, FLC is conducted before elections to ensure that only functional machines are available for deployment. The process is carried out by authorised engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), under the supervision of the District Election Officer. Representatives of recognised political parties are invited to observe the checks.

The process involves several stages:

1. Physical inspection: Engineers examine the ballot units, control units, VVPAT devices, cables and other components for damage.

2. Technical testing: The machines undergo checks to establish that their components are genuine and functioning correctly.

3. Cleaning and maintenance: Machines are cleaned and prepared for further testing.

4. Mock polls: Selected machines undergo mock polling, with electronic vote totals compared against VVPAT paper slips.

5. Secure storage: Machines that pass the checks are stored under prescribed security arrangements, with political-party representatives involved in the process.

The Commission's guidelines also provide for videography of warehouse opening and closing procedures, participation by recognised political parties and security measures for machines cleared for use.

What does the EVM exercise mean for voters?

The start of FLC does not mean that polling dates have been finalised. It is part of the technical preparation required before elections and can begin well before the formal announcement. For voters, the exercise is intended to ensure that machines are ready for use and that the checking process follows established procedures. Political-party representatives are invited to observe the process, while mock-poll results and machine inspections provide additional procedural safeguards.

The timing of the exercise is significant because the five states are approaching their next Assembly election cycle. However, the precise number of polling phases, voting dates, nomination deadlines and counting dates will only be known once the Election Commission publishes its official schedule.

Bottom line: Election preparations and EVM checks are reportedly progressing, and the election announcement could come after the Commission's review visits. But the dates are not yet officially finalised.