IMPHAL : A team of senior Election Commission of India (ECI) officials is visiting Manipur to review preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections, as the poll body steps up its assessment of five states scheduled to go to the polls early next year.

According to a report, the team, led by senior deputy election commissioners, is visiting the poll-bound states ahead of a subsequent visit by the full Election Commission before the announcement of the election schedule.

Manipur is among five states scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2027, along with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa. The term of Manipur’s 60-member Legislative Assembly expires in March 2027, making electoral preparedness a key priority for the commission.

The review is expected to help the poll body assess the arrangements required for conducting free, fair and peaceful elections in the state. The Election Commission will undertake a broader assessment before finalising the schedule.

The commission has already conducted a review visit to Uttarakhand, while a visit to Punjab is scheduled for October 28. The dates for the planned visit to Goa are being rescheduled, while the schedule for the officials’ visit to Uttar Pradesh has not yet been announced.

The preparations come as the Election Commission advances the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in the five poll-bound states. The commission recently informed the chief electoral officers of these states that Assembly elections are due early next year.

The electoral roll revision exercise is currently underway in Manipur and the other four states. The final electoral rolls for the 17 states and Union Territories covered under the current revision schedule are slated for publication on January 4.

Accurate and updated electoral rolls are a crucial component of election management, helping ensure that eligible voters can exercise their franchise and that polling arrangements reflect the electorate.

Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Election Commission can conduct Assembly elections earlier than six months before the expiry of the existing Assembly’s term. The commission will determine the appropriate schedule after assessing the preparedness of the respective states.

The review in Manipur comes as the state approaches another electoral cycle amid continuing challenges related to security, displacement and the restoration of normalcy. The commission’s assessment will be important in determining the administrative and logistical arrangements required for the polls.