A significant change is coming to the Bihar Assembly elections: Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot papers will now feature vibrant color photographs of candidates, as announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
These updated guidelines, issued on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, also stipulate that candidate serial numbers will be displayed more prominently. The ECI’s aim is to drastically improve clarity and readability, making the voting process more accessible for all citizens.
These revisions fall under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which governs the design and printing of EVM ballot papers. The core principle behind these changes is to enhance the voter experience and minimize confusion.
The new directives state that “photographs of candidates will be printed in colour on the EVM Ballot Paper, with the candidate’s face occupying three-fourths of the allocated photo space for optimal visibility.” This ensures voters can easily identify their chosen representatives.
The ECI confirmed in an official statement that these upgraded EVM ballot papers will debut in the upcoming Bihar elections, marking a new era of electoral transparency.
Further details provided to Chief Electoral Officers across all States and Union Territories clarify that candidate photographs will be printed in color unless only black and white images were supplied by the candidate. Each photograph will be precisely 2 cm wide and 2.5 cm high.
To further aid voters, candidate and NOTA (None Of The Above) serial numbers will be printed using international Indian numerals in a bold, size 30 font, ensuring maximum clarity on the ballot paper.
For Assembly elections specifically, the ballot paper itself will be printed on a distinctive pink-colored paper, adhering to specified RGB values for consistency.
The ECI note also specifies that a single ballot paper sheet will accommodate the names of no more than 15 candidates. The NOTA option will always be positioned after the final candidate’s name. Should the total number of contesting candidates, including NOTA, be less than 16, any remaining space on the panel will be intentionally left blank.
Regarding the printing process, the ECI prefers that EVM ballot papers be produced at government or semi-government presses. However, if such facilities are unavailable or lack the necessary capacity, private printing presses with suitable capabilities may be chosen. In such cases, strict adherence to due procedures and robust safety protocols will be enforced to safeguard the integrity of the process.