Andhra Pradesh is gearing up for local body elections, with the State Election Commission (SEC) issuing directives to all gram panchayats and municipalities to prepare ward-wise photo voter lists. The move comes as the tenure of local bodies is set to expire in the coming days. The SEC has instructed that the voter lists be ready by February 9, enabling smooth conduct of gram panchayat elections.
The commission has taken January 1, 2026, as the eligibility date, and the lists are to be based on existing assembly constituency voter records. These finalized lists are scheduled for official publication on March 9. The SEC emphasized that the process is being undertaken solely to facilitate local body polls and is independent of constituency delimitation or the ongoing population census.
Once the voter lists are published, the state government will have the flexibility to schedule elections at any appropriate time. Both the ruling coalition and opposition YSR Congress Party are reportedly strategizing to secure majority control in the upcoming elections. The SEC’s early notification highlights its focus on ensuring timely, transparent, and orderly elections across the state.