DU plans EVM option for college union polls this academic year

Delhi University has procured around 1,000 electronic voting machines for possible use in individual college students’ union elections during the 2026–27 academic year.

DUSU elections have used EVMs since 2006, but college-level polls have largely continued with paper ballots. DU chief election officer Raj Kishore Sharma said the additional machines would give colleges an alternative system. Of the university’s 91 affiliated colleges, 47 are affiliated with DUSU, though all colleges hold their own union elections.

Registrar Vikas Gupta said some existing machines had become obsolete and were being replaced, alongside the new procurement. The university has fixed September 18 for DUSU and central council elections, with nominations due by September 10; colleges follow their own election schedules.

Hansraj College principal Rama Sharma said paper-ballot polling can require substantial teaching and non-teaching staff for ballot distribution, polling stations and counting, especially where more than 5,000 students vote. Miranda House principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda said EVMs could make the process more efficient. Colleges can now decide whether to take up the option.