Officials serving in their home districts or those who have spent three of the last four years in the same district fall under the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) transfer rules for the 2027 Assembly elections. In a letter dated October 27, 2026, the Commission directed Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to enforce these rules for officials involved in election management, district administration and policing.

The tenure rule applies to officials directly connected with elections who are posted in their home revenue district or have completed three years there during the preceding four years. It also covers those who will complete three years by March 31, 2027, in Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand, or by May 31, 2027, in Uttar Pradesh.Promotions within the same district count towards the three-year tenure. Service at a state department’s headquarters may be excluded, even if the office lies within the same revenue district.