Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 17: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced a major revamp of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot paper design to improve readability and make the voting process more user-friendly. The redesigned ballot paper will feature, for the first time, colour photographs of candidates and will be implemented in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

This change is part of a broader set of 28 new initiatives introduced by the Commission over the past six months, aimed at modernising and simplifying the electoral process. The revised guidelines for the ballot paper have been framed under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.

According to the ECI, the new ballot papers will display the serial numbers of candidates and the NOTA (None of the Above) option in the international form of Indian numerals, using a bold font size of 30 to ensure visibility. Additionally, all candidate names, including NOTA, will appear in the same font type and size to maintain uniformity and clarity.

The ballot papers will be printed on 70 GSM paper, adhering to standardised specifications for quality and consistency. For Assembly elections, a distinct pink-coloured ballot paper with defined RGB values will be used to help voters and polling personnel easily distinguish them from other materials.

Officials noted that this redesign is expected to significantly benefit elderly and less literate voters by making the voting process more intuitive and reducing any potential confusion. The move is also seen as a step toward enhancing transparency and voter trust in the electoral system.

The ECI plans to implement this new format in Bihar first, with a phased rollout to other states in future elections. The timing of the announcement — just ahead of the Bihar polls — highlights the Commission’s focus on improving voter experience and strengthening the democratic process.