The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised its guidelines under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, to make Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot papers more readable and uniform.
Starting with the upcoming elections in Bihar, EVM ballot papers will feature colour photographs of candidates for the first time. The candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the photo space to ensure better visibility. Serial numbers will be printed in bold, using the international form of Indian numerals, with a font size of 30 for clarity.
To maintain consistency, all candidate names—including the NOTA option—will be printed in the same font type and size. The ballot papers will be printed on 70 GSM paper, with pink-coloured sheets used for Assembly elections, adhering to specific RGB values for standardization.
The updated layout also includes clear placement of serial numbers, sheet numbers (if applicable), and election details such as constituency name and year, printed in English. Candidate panels will display the serial number, name, photograph, and symbol in a structured format.
The Commission has directed all Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers to ensure strict compliance with the new design standards. Printing will preferably be done at government or semi-government presses, with private presses allowed under regulated conditions if necessary.
This move is part of ECI’s broader reform agenda, which includes 28 initiatives introduced in the past six months to streamline election processes and enhance voter convenience.
