The Directorate of Printing, Stationery & Publication, Odisha, has requested the State Election Commission to approve funds for procuring watermarked paper required for ballot printing ahead of upcoming elections.
Director Diptesh Kumar Pattnayak, IPS, sent the letter from Madhupatna, Cuttack, to the Deputy Secretary of the State Election Commission on July 2, 2026. The Directorate urged immediate consent to initiate the tender process for the procurement.
Officials noted that the Directorate needs a large quantity of watermarked paper to prepare four distinct varieties of coloured ballot papers. The requirement includes approximately 87 metric tons for Ward Member, Sarpanch, and P.S. Member ballots, and 94 metric tons for Zilla Parishad ballots.
The Directorate plans to procure the paper through a formal tender process and will communicate the final cost once the tender concludes. The letter emphasised the need for timely approval to ensure smooth execution of ballot paper printing within the stipulated schedule.
The communication follows earlier correspondence between the Directorate and the Election Commission regarding fund allocation and procurement timelines. The Directorate reiterated that early consent will help maintain transparency and efficiency in election material preparation.
