Himachal panchayat polls: 78.53% polling in first phase, women voters outnumber men

Stating that women voters voted 6% more than men in the first phase of Himachal Pradesh panchayat elections on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, more than 78% voting was recorded, officials said.

Voting for 1,293 panchayats started at 7 am and ended peacefully at 3 pm after a ‘yellow’ alert was issued in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Solan and Sirmaur districts due to heatwave conditions.

According to State Election Commission data, 78.55 percent of voters cast their votes by 15:00. In 10 of the 12 districts, female voters outnumbered men.

The data showed that 81.76% of female voters and 75.43% of male voters went to the polls.

The highest turnout was recorded in Kullu district with 84.43 percent, followed by Sirmaur with 82.57 percent, Solan with 81.06 percent and Chamba with 80.53 percent.

Shimla recorded 79.80% voter turnout, Mandi 79.39%, Una 78.76%, Bilaspur 77.39%, Kangra 75.75%, Hamirpur 73.05% and Kinnaur 73.59%.

According to official data, Lahaul and Spiti districts recorded the lowest turnout at 69.40%.

With nearly 97% voter turnout, the highest turnout in the state was recorded in Kunar-dhoman gram panchayat in Sirmaur district.

In Maindi, a district of Karsog in Mandi district, the voting for the panchayat samiti was canceled because the name of one of the candidates was missing from the ballot paper.

The ward has around 2,500 voters and the name of one of the candidates, Hoshiyar Singh, is not in the list. Authorities said an investigation has been launched.

Elections were also postponed in ward number 3 of Chambi panchayat in Chamba due to the death of one of the candidates contesting the elections. Polls were also canceled/postponed in ward number 1 of Brandhli in Naren gram panchayat in Rampur in Shimla district as NOTA stamp was used in the ballot paper.

“Voting was peaceful across the state. As the name of one of the six candidates was missing from the list, voting for the panchayat samiti will be held again in a ward in Mandi district,” state Chief Election Commissioner Anil Khachi told PTI.

In Bilaspur district, 113-year-old Manglu Devi exercised her right to vote in the ‘Pink Booth’ established under Seu Gram Panchayat in Ghumarwin development block.

Manglu Devi, a resident of Bhadrog village, had come to the polls to vote along with other family members. She is one of the oldest women to vote in this election.

District Election Officer (Panchayat) and Deputy Commissioner Bilaspur Rahul Kumar lauded Manglu Devi’s spirit and stated that her participation in this “festival of democracy” will inspire other voters and be an inspiration for the youth.

Women empowerment was showcased at Ghanghal Panchayat in Dhanotu Development Block in Mandi district; because the responsibility for conducting elections was given to women officials and staff across the entire panchayat and not just in a single ‘women voting booth’.

Sub-District Magistrate Smritika Negi said women were specially manned at the polling front in all the five polling stations within the panchayat, ensuring that the voting process proceeded peacefully and orderly throughout the day.

He added that the aim behind this initiative is to bring women to the forefront in leadership and administrative responsibilities.

Negi said that after the success achieved in Ghanghal Panchayat, this all-women team will take charge of all five polling stations in Chowk Panchayat in the next phase of voting scheduled to be held on May 28.

More than 16.5 lakh voters were eligible to vote in the first phase. More than 9,000 candidates are in the fray for the posts of gram panchayat members, pradhans, up-pradhans, panchayat samiti members and zila community members.

Elections are held using colour-coded ballot papers – white for ward members, yellow for up-pradhans, green for pradhans, pink for panchayat samiti members and blue for zila community members.

The State Election Commission said counting for gram panchayat members, pradhans and up-pradhans has begun and the results will be declared today. In contrast, panchayat samiti and zila community seats will be announced on May 31.

Around 50.89 lakh voters are eligible to vote in the three-phase polls.

They will elect 31,182 public representatives, 3,754 pradhans, 3,754 up-pradhans, 21,654 ward members, 1,769 panchayat samiti members and 251 zila community members.

A total of 10,854 candidates have been elected so far without facing any opposition. Voting for the second and third phases will be held on May 28 and 30, respectively.

It was published – 27 May 2026 01:16 IST