NEW DELHI — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections. A total of 17.4 crore voters are set to decide the fate of governments across four states and one Union Territory.

The 2026 Poll Schedule

• April 9 (Single Phase): Kerala (140 seats), Assam (126 seats), and Puducherry (30 seats).
• April 20 (Single Phase): Tamil Nadu (234 seats).
• April 23 & 29 (Two Phases): West Bengal (294 seats).
• May 4: Combined Counting of Votes and result declaration.

Operational Highlights

• Model Code of Conduct: The MCC is now in effect, freezing new government projects and policy decisions in these regions.
• Efficiency Shift: West Bengal's election has been condensed into just two phases, a significant reduction from the eight-phase process in 2021.
• Tech Integration: The ECI has launched the ECINET mobile app to provide real-time data and ensure transparency across 2.19 lakh polling stations.

For the first time in recent cycles, the notification for the majority of states will be issued as early as March 16, setting a rapid pace for the filing of nominations.