Jaipur: Rajasthan will set up about 66,000 polling stations for the 2026 elections to urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions, the State Election Commission said Monday. Around 18,000 booths are planned for urban local body elections and 48,000 for panchayat polls.State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh reviewed preparations with senior officials at the Secretariat and directed departments to complete arrangements on time for “free, fair and transparent elections”.Urban local body elections are proposed in two phases across 39 districts, while Phalodi and Salumber will vote in a single phase. Panchayati Raj elections are proposed in four phases in 36 districts, two phases in four districts and one phase in one district. Jaisalmer is scheduled for single-phase polling.The commission said holding urban local body and Panchayati Raj elections together under the “one state-one election” approach is aimed at ensuring political stability, continuity in administration, reducing expenditure and improving the use of staff and other resources.Voting methods will differ by post. EVMs will be used to elect Panchayat Samiti members, Zila Parishad members and urban local body members. Panch and Sarpanch elections will be held through ballot boxes.SEC secretary Rajesh Verma said the first phase of urban local body polls will cover 140 bodies, 5,050 wards and 10,185 polling stations, requiring about 71,295 civil election personnel and 61,110 police personnel. The second phase will cover 169 urban local bodies, 5,195 wards and 6,280 polling stations, requiring about 43,960 civil election personnel.The commission also asked govt to complete transfers and postings of election-related officials by Aug 15, in line with its July 21 order. Personnel against whom the Election Commission of India or the SEC had ordered action for election-related negligence in previous polls will not be assigned election duty.
