Panchayat polls 2026: SEC issues 7 preparation orders; the election schedule is yet to be announced

In its order of 16 September 2026 the State Election Commission, Rajasthan wrote that the 2026 general elections to Panchayati Raj institutions are “to be announced shortly”. As of the evening of 30 September, the programme (nomination, polling and counting dates) has not been published on the Commission's website.

Over the past week the Commission issued these preparatory orders:

• 29 Sep — special facilities for senior citizen voters
• 29 Sep — setting up model polling stations
• 29 Sep — EVM randomisation, reserve machines and collection of machines after polling
• 28 Sep — instructions to returning officers and polling parties on EVMs (M3A/MPSV/MPMV)
• 28 Sep — recording SDMM/DMM numbers in the presiding officer's diary
• 26 Sep — appointment of election agents and polling agents
• 24 Sep — setting up voter assistance booths

The reservation lotteries for sarpanch, panch, panchayat samiti and zila parishad member posts were drawn in September. As soon as the Commission publishes the programme, every gram panchayat page on NetaKaun will show its samiti's polling date and phase.