The State Election Commission has initiated preparations for the upcoming three-tier Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh, scheduled to begin in early 2026. The Commission has issued a notification for the final publication of the electoral rolls. A voter list revision campaign will commence across the state from July 18, 2024. Importantly, related offices will remain open during holidays to facilitate maximum participation and enrollment for voting rights.
Online Applications Accepted
The State Election Commission has also provided an online application facility to simplify the process of adding names to the voter list. Citizens can apply to add their names by visiting the Commission's official website: https://sec.up.nic.in/OnlineVoters/. This process will be available from August 14 to September 22.
After submitting the online application, the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) will visit the applicant's home to verify the documents. If found eligible, the voter's name will be added to the list. The Commission has clarified that the deadline for this campaign will not be extended under any circumstances, therefore, citizens are urged to complete the process in a timely manner.
Emphasis on Enrolling New Voters
This time, the revision campaign will begin with potential changes in the structure of Gram Panchayats. If any part or the entire Gram Panchayat is included in an urban body, the old voter list of that area will be removed and the revision work will begin. Furthermore, young people who will complete 18 years of age on January 1, 2026, can also register their names in the voter list under this process. They can apply online or contact the BLO.
Allocation of work areas to BLOs and supervisors will be done between July 18 and August 13, after which door-to-door surveys will be conducted from August 14 to September 29.
Phased Program Released
The State Election Commission has also released the complete schedule for this campaign. Here's what will happen:
• July 18 – August 13: Allocation of work areas to BLOs
• August 14 – September 29: Door-to-door survey and enrollment of new voters
• August 14 – September 22: Online application process
• September 23 – 29: Field verification of online applications
• September 30 – November 24: Preparation of a digital copy of the voter list
• November 25 – December 4: Numbering and mapping of polling stations
• December 5: Publication of the draft voter list
• December 6 – 12: Period for registering claims and objections
• December 13 – 19: Disposal of claims and objections
• January 15, 2026: Publication of the final voter list
State Election Commissioner RP Singh issued this notification on Friday and instructed all concerned officials to complete this process in a completely time-bound and transparent manner.
Probable Election Dates: March-April 2026
According to sources, the Panchayat elections are likely to be held between March-April 2026. In this context, the Commission has initiated preparations in advance to prevent any technical or procedural hurdles. The Commission's aim is to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out of the voter list and that the participation of every individual in the democratic process is ensured.
