Election Commission Advises Voters to Access Candidate Data Through ECINET Platform

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday urged voters to leverage the ECINET platform to access detailed information about candidates, including educational qualifications and criminal antecedents, ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections and by-elections. The move is part of the Commission’s efforts to promote informed voting and transparency in the electoral process.

In a press release, the ECI highlighted the “Know Your Candidates” module available on ECINET, which allows citizens to view verified details of candidates, including assets, liabilities, and social media handles. Voters can also download the complete affidavit (Form 26) submitted by candidates, ensuring access to official and verified information.

The Commission noted that it had announced the election schedule on March 15 for the Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, alongside by-elections for eight Assembly constituencies across Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. A total of 1,955 candidates are contesting elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and by-elections in four other states scheduled for April 9.

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Nominations for West Bengal (Phase I and II) and Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have already begun. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 9 for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Phase I, and April 13 for West Bengal Phase II. ECINET allows voters to review candidates’ affidavits and verify their criminal, financial, and educational background before making decisions.

Describing ECINET as the world’s largest electoral service platform, the ECI said it integrates over 40 applications and portals, providing a seamless user experience for India’s vast electorate. Services include voter registration, electoral roll searches, application tracking, e-EPIC downloads, communication with Booth Level Officers, polling trends, and grievance redressal.

The platform also offers tools like cVIGIL for reporting violations and Saksham for accessible electoral services for persons with disabilities. According to the Commission, these features aim to enhance transparency, encourage voter participation, and ensure that citizens make well-informed choices in the upcoming elections.

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