Bihar State Election Commission is likely to hold the Bihar Panchayat Elections 2026 in October and November, before the term of current elected representatives ends in December 2026. Preparations for the elections have already started to ensure that voting in villages across the state is completed smoothly and on time.
Bihar Panchayat Election 2026 - Important Dates
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date for Claims and Objections | June 15, 2026 |
| Final Gazette Notification | June 21, 2026 |
| Election Notification | August End / First Half of September 2026 |
| Polling Period | October-November 2026 |
| Completion of Current Tenure | December 2026 |
Bihar Panchayat Election 2026 Could be Held in Nine Phases
Bihar Election Commission is preparing to hold the elections in nine phases. The main reason for multiple phases is the limited number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) available for polling.
At present, the commission has around 32,000 EVMs. These machines will be used in a rotational manner. EVMs used in the first phase will be reused in the third phase, while those used in the second phase will be used again in the fourth phase.
Election Notification Expected by August-End
The official election notification is likely to be issued in the last week of August 2026 or during the first half of September 2026.
The Election Commission is currently resolving objections related to:
- Reservation roster
- Population data
- Panchayat delimitation
- Form-1 draft publication
After reviewing all claims and objections, the final gazette notification is expected to be released on June 21.
Reservation Changes in More Than 4,000 Panchayats
More than 4,000 gram panchayats and over 55,000 wards are expected to see changes in reservation status due to the new reservation roster and delimitation process.
Bihar currently has:
- 8,053 Gram Panchayats
- Around 1.15 lakh Wards
- 533 Panchayat Samitis
- District Councils in all 38 districts
The number of gram panchayats has decreased from 8,387 in 2021 because several rural areas have become part of urban local bodies.
