The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced bye-elections to five Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal and one Lok Sabha constituency in Assam, with polling scheduled for October 6 and counting of votes on October 9.
The vacancies in the Assembly constituencies have arisen following the resignation of the sitting legislators, while the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat in Assam fell vacant following the resignation of Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi.
The constituencies going to polls are Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) in Tamil Nadu, Thattanchavady in Puducherry, Rejinagar and Nandigram in West Bengal, and Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam.
According to the schedule announced by the poll panel, the Gazette notification will be issued on September 9, while the last date for filing nominations is September 16. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on September 17 and candidates can withdraw their nominations by September 19.
Polling will be held on October 6, followed by counting on October 9. The entire election process will be completed by October 11.
Electoral rolls updated
The Election Commission said the electoral rolls for the constituencies have undergone the required revision and provided the dates of final publication.
The electoral rolls for Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu were published on February 23, 2026, while the roll for Thattanchavady in Puducherry was published on February 14.
For West Bengal’s Rejinagar and Nandigram constituencies, the rolls were published on February 28, while the electoral roll for Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam was published on February 10.
The Commission said continuous updation of electoral rolls would continue until the last date for filing nominations, subject to the applicable provisions concerning the qualifying date.
EVMs, VVPATs to be used
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems will be used at all polling stations during the bye-elections.
The Commission said adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and necessary arrangements are being put in place to ensure smooth conduct of polling.
The Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) will remain the primary identification document for voters. However, voters can also use other approved documents, including Aadhaar, MGNREGA job cards, bank or post office passbooks with photographs, driving licences, PAN cards, passports, pension documents and government-issued service identity cards.
Model Code of Conduct comes into force
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force with immediate effect in the districts in which the constituencies going to polls are wholly or partly located.
The poll panel has also reiterated its requirements concerning candidates with criminal antecedents. Such candidates are required to publish information about their criminal background in newspapers and through television channels on three occasions during the campaign period.
Political parties fielding candidates with criminal antecedents must also publish details of their criminal background and the reasons for selecting them on their websites, in newspapers and through television channels.
The Election Commission said the information would also be available through ECINET under the “Know Your Candidates” facility.
The bye-elections will be completed by October 11, according to the schedule announced by the Commission.
