- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:31 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The elections have been announced for 48 urban local bodies (9 municipal corporations, 20 municipal councils, and 19 town councils) in Jharkhand. At a press conference in Ranchi, State Election Commissioner Alka Tiwari stated that elections will be held on February 23, with counting of votes to take place on February 27.
It was reported that direct elections will be held for ward councillors and mayors/chairpersons in around 1,087 wards. The post of deputy mayor/vice president is unreserved and will be elected indirectly.
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has already approved the election schedule. As per the High Court's directive, the aim is to complete the entire process by March 31, 2026.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in the state since the election announcement, which will apply only to municipal areas. The commission will use the same voter list used during the assembly elections in the municipal elections, making voters registered by October 1, 2024, eligible to vote.
Municipal elections will be conducted using ballot papers and ballot boxes. For this purpose, a sufficient number of ballot boxes have been made available to the concerned District Election Officer (Municipal Corporation)-cum-Deputy Commissioner.
Instructions have been given to all the District Election Officers (Municipal Corporation)-cum-Deputy Commissioners to keep adequate number of ballot boxes ready for the elections and to provide timely and proper training to the polling personnel/counting personnel for operating the ballot boxes.
The total number of polling stations set up for this election is 4304, which are located in a total of 2129 buildings. The State Election Commission has ordered the District Election Officer (Municipal Corporation) of all the districts to ensure that basic minimum facilities like drinking water, toilets, ramps for disabled voters, lighting etc. will be provided in every polling station.
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Necessary guidelines for maintaining security during the elections have already been issued since January 8. Adequate numbers of security forces will be deployed to maintain law and order and at polling stations.
The elections will be held on a non-party basis, but all major parties (JMM, BJP, Congress, etc.) are vying to establish dominance in urban areas. In political circles, this is being considered the 'semi-final' of the state's urban politics.
Voters must verify their identity at the polling station during voting. Voters who have been provided with a voter ID card (EPIC) by the Election Commission of India will be identified through their EPIC. However, those without a voter ID can use one of 12 alternative forms of identification.
Documents that can be used for voter identification:
1. Voter ID card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India
2. Authentic photo voter slip issued by the election machinery
3. Passport
4. Driving licence
5. Photo identity cards issued to employees by the state/central government, public sector undertakings, local bodies, or public limited companies
6. Passbooks with photographs issued by banks or post offices
7. Income tax identity card (PAN card)
8. Aadhaar card
9. National Population Register (NPR)
10. Job card with a photograph issued under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
11. Health insurance smart card with a photograph
12. Pension document with a photograph