Overview

• The Election Commission issued revised EVM ballot-paper guidelines under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
• The updated design will be used first in the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for October–November 2025.
• Candidates’ photographs will be printed in colour with faces covering three-fourths of the photo space for clearer identification.
• Serial numbers for candidates and NOTA will be bolder in size-30 using the international form of Indian numerals, and all names will appear in the same font type and size.
• Republic World reports the ballots will use 70 GSM paper with pink paper for Assembly contests, and the move is part of 28 recent ECI initiatives as opposition challenges to the electoral roll revision continue in the Supreme Court.