Pune: EVM Rules Changed for Municipal Polls; National Party Candidates to Appear First

Pune, 29th December 2025: To reduce voter confusion, the State Election Commission has revised the manner in which candidates’ names are displayed on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for municipal elections. Under the new system, candidates from recognised national political parties will appear first on EVMs, followed by those from state-level parties, with independent candidates listed last.

Previously, candidates contesting local body elections were displayed on EVMs strictly in alphabetical order. Election officials said this often led to confusion among voters, particularly when candidates with similar names or surnames appeared next to each other. To address the issue, the commission has decided to adopt the pattern followed in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

As per the revised arrangement, candidates will be grouped in four categories: recognised national and state parties; parties recognised as state parties in other states and registered with the Election Commission; registered but unrecognised parties; and independent candidates. Within each category, candidates’ names will be arranged alphabetically in Marathi.

Officials said the change is expected to make the voting process clearer and more voter-friendly, especially in closely contested civic elections, by enabling voters to identify candidates more easily through party symbols and avoid errors while casting their votes.