DUSU Elections 2026: Delhi University Announces Poll Schedule, Voting on September 18

Published: Monday, August 17, 2026, 13:01 [IST]

The University of Delhi (DU) has announced the complete schedule for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) Elections 2026. According to the university's notification, polling will be conducted on September 18, 2026, while the counting of votes will take place on September 19, 2026.

DU Announces Poll Schedule: Voting on September 18 — PTI Images

The election schedule includes important deadlines for nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal and publication of the final list of candidates. The university has also introduced several changes to the election guidelines, including the removal of the ₹1 lakh security bond and tighter restrictions on campaign vehicles and promotional activities.

DUSU Elections 2026: Important Dates

Candidates contesting the DUSU elections must follow the prescribed schedule. The deadline for submitting nomination papers, along with the required ₹500 demand draft and affidavits, is September 10, 2026.

Nomination papers for membership of the Central Council can be obtained from the respective colleges, departments and institutions. The required nomination forms are also available for download through the Delhi University website.

The important schedule is as follows:

Event	Date
Nomination Submission	September 10, 2026
Scrutiny of Nominations	September 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM
List of Duly Nominated Candidates	September 10, 2026 at 6 PM
Last Date for Withdrawal	September 11 by 12 Noon
Final List of Candidates	September 11 at 5 PM
Polling	September 18, 2026
Counting of Votes	September 19, 2026

DUSU Election 2026 Voting Timings

Voting will take place in separate sessions for students attending day and evening classes.

For day classes, polling will be conducted from 8:30 AM to 1 PM. Students enrolled in evening classes will be able to vote between 3 PM and 7:30 PM.

Students should follow the instructions issued by their respective colleges regarding polling locations and voting procedures.

DUSU Elections 2026: ₹1 Lakh Security Bond Removed

One of the significant changes this year is the removal of the ₹1 lakh security bond that had been introduced during the previous election cycle.

The bond was intended to discourage property defacement and other violations during campaigning. However, student groups had raised concerns about the financial burden it placed on candidates.

Under the revised rules, candidates found violating university or campus regulations may face disciplinary action, including disqualification, instead of monetary forfeiture.

Campaign Convoys Restricted to Five Vehicles

Delhi University has also tightened rules governing campaign convoys. A candidate's campaign rally will be limited to a maximum of five vehicles.

Election stickers displaying a candidate's name or party symbol will not be allowed on cars, buses, jeeps, auto-rickshaws or e-rickshaws.

The university has additionally prohibited the use of heavy machinery, including tractors and JCBs, as well as animals for election campaigning.

Promotional Giveaways and Campaign Stalls Restricted

The university has imposed restrictions on promotional material and giveaways during the DUSU election campaign.

Candidates will not be permitted to distribute freebies, souvenirs or branded merchandise to attract voters. Branded temporary structures such as canopies, umbrellas and booths carrying a candidate's name or ballot number will also not be allowed on campus.

The restrictions are aimed at ensuring that campaigning remains within the prescribed election guidelines.

EVMs May Be Introduced for DUSU Elections

Delhi University is also planning to introduce Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for students' union elections at individual colleges during the 2026-27 academic session.

The proposed move is intended to bring greater uniformity to the voting process across DU colleges and gradually replace the traditional paper-ballot-box system.

The DUSU Elections 2026 will therefore take place under several revised campaign and election guidelines. Candidates and students are advised to follow the official Delhi University notification for the latest instructions regarding nominations, campaigning, voting and counting.