Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday indicated that the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections may be conducted in a single phase, following consultations with political parties.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Kumar said that political stakeholders had largely favoured a single-phase poll. The Election Commission will take a final decision after due consideration.
A review meeting was held to assess preparedness across the state. District collectors, police officials and enforcement agencies briefed the Commission on logistics, security arrangements and monitoring mechanisms. Kumar also interacted with first-time voters and described the electoral process as a “festival of democracy,” urging greater youth participation.
He said candidates can file nominations online through the Election Commission portal, with submissions visible to the electorate. Physical submission before the Returning Officer within the stipulated time remains permissible under the law.
Appealing to voters between 18 and 30 years, Kumar urged the media to amplify awareness efforts. Citing high voter participation in Bihar, he expressed confidence that Tamil Nadu would record one of its highest polling percentages.
Clarifying legal provisions, Kumar stated that Aadhaar serves as proof of identity but not of domicile or citizenship under Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act. He noted that voting eligibility is governed by Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which requires a person to be above 18 years of age, an ordinary resident of the polling area, and a citizen of India.
On electoral integrity, he warned against carrying cash beyond permissible limits and emphasised strict enforcement against inducement-related activities. He also highlighted the simplified Form 8 process available on the Commission’s portal for updating voter details, including name changes after marriage.
Tamil Nadu has 234 Assembly constituencies — 188 General, 44 reserved for Scheduled Castes and 2 reserved for Scheduled Tribes. A special intensive revision of electoral rolls was conducted from October 27, 2025, to February 23, 2026, to ensure accuracy and inclusivity.
As of now, the state has over 5.67 crore registered voters. Officials said names of deceased voters, shifted residents and duplicate entries have been removed.
Nearly 75,000 polling stations will be set up across Tamil Nadu, including around 44,000 in rural areas. The Commission has planned 100 per cent webcasting in all polling booths. The average number of voters per booth is expected to be 756 to facilitate smooth voting.
In addition, 258 polling stations will be managed entirely by women, 47 by persons with disabilities, and around 265 will be designated as model polling stations.
The Election Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair and transparent elections and directed officials to ensure impartiality and strict adherence to election laws.
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