A remarkable 78.53% of voters cast their ballots in the first phase of the Himachal Pradesh panchayat elections, with women voters outpacing their male counterparts by 6%.
Election Highlights
The polling process, which took place on May 26, 2026, was marked by a high level of enthusiasm, particularly among women voters, who accounted for 81.76% of the total turnout, compared to 75.43% for men.
District-Wise Breakdown
The highest voter turnout was recorded in Kullu district, where 84.43% of eligible voters exercised their franchise, followed by Sirmaur at 82.57%, Solan at 81.06%, and Chamba at 80.53%.
- Shimla: 79.80%
- Mandi: 79.39%
- Una: 78.76%
- Bilaspur: 77.39%
- Kangra: 75.75%
- Hamirpur: 73.05%
- Kinnaur: 73.59%
Lahaul and Spiti district recorded the lowest turnout at 69.40%.
Notable Incidents
In a remarkable display of democratic spirit, 113-year-old Manglu Devi cast her vote at the Pink Booth in Seu Gram Panchayat, Bilaspur district, accompanied by her family members.
In another noteworthy incident, women officials and staff were exclusively in charge of conducting elections in Ghanghal Panchayat, Dhanotu Development Block, Mandi district, with the objective of promoting women’s empowerment and leadership.
Upcoming Phases
The second and third phases of the polls are scheduled to take place on May 28 and 30, respectively, with a total of 50.89 lakh voters eligible to participate in the three-phase elections.
The elections will ultimately elect 31,182 public representatives, including 3,754 pradhans, 3,754 up-pradhans, 21,654 ward members, 1,769 panchayat samiti members, and 251 zila parishad members.
Source: Original Article
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