12 Documents Mandatory for Himachal Panchayat Poll Nominations; Filing Begins Today

May 7, 2026

Himachal: The nomination process for the Panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh begins today (May 7). However, a state of confusion persists among aspiring candidates regarding the necessary documents, leading them to make repeated rounds of various government offices.

According to the State Election Commission, 12 types of documents must be submitted along with the nomination papers. The nomination forms of candidates who fail to do so are liable to be rejected. Instead of requiring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) regarding encroachment on government land, candidates are required to submit a self-declaration.

First, candidates must obtain Nomination Form 18 from the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) and fill it out accurately. Similarly, Form 18(A) issued by the Panchayat Secretary must also be filled out with great care.

Nominations to be Filed Over Three Days for 31,214 Posts

According to the schedule released by the State Election Commission, nominations for the 3,754 Panchayats will be filed on May 7, 8, and 11. Over these three days, nominations will be submitted for a total of 31,214 posts. The scrutiny of these nomination papers will take place on May 12, while candidates will have the opportunity to withdraw their nominations on May 14 and 15.

On May 15, immediately following the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations at 3:00 PM, election symbols will be allotted. By the end of this day, the final list of candidates contesting the elections will become clear. Polling in the state will be conducted in three phases on May 26, 28, and 30. The votes for the posts of ‘Pradhan’ (Head), ‘Up-Pradhan’ (deputy head), and Ward Members will be counted at the respective Panchayat headquarters.

3,754 ‘Pradhans’ to be Elected

This time around, the state will elect 3,754 ‘Pradhans’, 3,754 up-Pradhans, 21,654 Ward Members, 1,769 BDC members, and 251 District Council members. More than 5 million voters will exercise their franchise to elect a total of 31,214 public representatives.

For the election process, 21,678 polling stations will be established across the state. The list of these stations will be released today. The Commission has issued directives that auxiliary polling stations will also be set up in areas with a high number of voters. Female staff members will be deployed at separate polling stations designated for women voters.