Polling on May 26, 28 and 30; counting on May 31
Himachal panchayat elections to be held in three phases from May 26
The Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission has announced that panchayat elections in the state will be held in three phases on May 26, May 28 and May 30. The counting of votes will take place on May 31. The elections will cover more than 31,000 posts across all 12 districts of the state.
State Election Commissioner Anil Kumar Khachi shared the schedule during a press conference in Shimla. He said that a total of 31,182 posts will be filled through these elections. These include positions such as pradhan, up-pradhan, gram panchayat members, panchayat samiti members and zila parishad members.
More than 50 lakh voters are expected to take part in the elections. According to official data, around 50.79 lakh people are registered voters, including over 25 lakh men and more than 25 lakh women. Among them, over 52,000 voters will be casting their vote for the first time.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court directed the state to conduct local body elections within a fixed timeline. The court had earlier expressed concern over delays and asked the government to complete the process by the end of May.
Election schedule and process
The election process will begin with the issue of the official notification. After that, candidates will be able to file their nomination papers between May 7 and May 9, from 11 am to 3 pm. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on May 12.
Candidates who wish to withdraw their nominations can do so on May 14 and May 15. The final list of candidates will be prepared on May 15, and election symbols will also be allotted on the same day.
Voting will be held from 7 am to 3 pm on the three polling dates. To make the process easier for voters, different coloured ballot papers will be used for different posts. For example, white ballots will be used for panch posts, yellow for up-pradhan, light green for pradhan, pink for panchayat samiti members and light blue for zila parishad members.
Counting of votes for gram panchayat-level posts will be done at the respective panchayat headquarters soon after polling ends. For panchayat samiti and zila parishad seats, counting will take place at block headquarters starting from 9 am on May 31.
The elections will not be held in four gram panchayats in Kullu district because their term will continue until February 2027. However, elections for panchayat samiti and zila parishad seats will still be conducted in those areas.
ALSO READ: UAE announces exit from OPEC and OPEC+ amid global energy crisis
Background and preparations
The panchayat elections were originally scheduled to be held between December 2025 and January 2026. However, they were postponed due to heavy damage caused by monsoon rains, which affected roads and infrastructure across the state. The government had estimated losses of over ₹10,000 crore and cited logistical difficulties in conducting the polls at that time.
After the terms of the panchayati raj institutions ended, the state government appointed administrators to manage their functions. This move was challenged in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which directed the government to hold elections by April 30, 2026.
The state government then approached the Supreme Court. While the apex court agreed with the need for timely elections, it granted some additional time considering the challenges faced by the state. This led to the current election schedule being announced.
With the declaration of the poll dates, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force across Himachal Pradesh. This means that political parties and candidates must follow strict rules to ensure free and fair elections. The Election Commission has invoked its powers under the Constitution and the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act to enforce these rules.
To maintain law and order during the election period, district authorities have also taken precautionary steps. In Shimla, the district magistrate has ordered all licensed firearm holders to deposit their weapons temporarily. This step has been taken to prevent any possible disturbance or misuse of weapons during the elections. Authorities have warned that strict action will be taken against those who do not follow the order.
More than 21,000 polling stations will be set up across the state to conduct the elections smoothly. One of the polling stations in Lahaul-Spiti district will be located at an altitude of 4,587 metres, making it the highest polling station in Himachal Pradesh.
The Election Commission has also taken steps to update voter lists to ensure that all eligible citizens can participate. Initially, October 1, 2025, was set as the qualifying date for voter registration. Later, a special revision was carried out using April 1, 2026, as the reference date. Voters can check their details through the “Voter Saathi” mobile app or the official website.
Importance of the elections
Panchayat elections play a key role in local governance in Himachal Pradesh. They decide leadership at the village and block levels, which directly affects development work, public services, and community welfare.
With a large number of posts and voters involved, these elections are an important democratic exercise. They also mark a return to elected local bodies after a period when administrators were managing the institutions.
As the polling dates approach, political activity is expected to increase across the state. Candidates will begin campaigning, and voters will prepare to choose their representatives.
The smooth conduct of these elections will be important for strengthening grassroots democracy and ensuring that local governance continues to function effectively in Himachal Pradesh.
Related News
