Administrative preparations are progressing rapidly across Dholpur district in Rajasthan for the upcoming 2026 urban local body elections. To elect representatives across a total of 230 civic wards comprising the Nagar Parishad and various municipal boards (Nagar Palikas), polling will be conducted in two distinct phases. According to the schedule finalized by the district administration, voters in the first phase will exercise their franchise on September 9, while the second phase of voting will take place on September 11. Polling hours on both designated voting days have been set from 7:00 AM in the morning to 6:00 PM in the evening. Local election authorities have charted out the complete schedule, specifying every critical date from official notifications and nominations to polling and the final counting of votes.
Nomination Timeline and Symbol Allocation Schedule
The formal election process across urban areas of Dholpur district will commence on August 27 with the publication of the official public notification. Prospective candidates can begin filing their nomination papers immediately following the release of the notice, with the deadline for submitting nomination documents fixed for August 31. Returning officers will inspect and scrutinize all submitted nomination papers on September 1. Candidates who decide to withdraw their candidature from the electoral contest will have time until 3:00 PM on September 3 to submit their withdrawal applications. Following the completion of the withdrawal procedure, election symbols will be officially allotted to contesting candidates on September 4, paving the way for full-scale campaign activities across the district leading up to voting on September 9 and 11.
Phase 1 Coverage: 135 Wards Polling on September 9
Voting during the initial phase will take place on September 9 across 135 wards spread across four local bodies. The centerpiece of this phase is the Dholpur Nagar Parishad, where elections will be held across all 60 of its wards. Additionally, the first phase includes 35 wards of the Rajakheda municipal board, 20 wards of the Mania municipal board, and 20 wards belonging to the Saipau municipal board. District officials are setting up comprehensive logistical arrangements and security protocols at all designated polling stations to ensure that voters can cast their votes conveniently between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Phase 2 Coverage: 95 Wards Polling on September 11 with Public Holiday
The second phase of the civic elections will cover the remaining 95 wards of Dholpur district on September 11. This phase encompasses 45 wards under the Bari municipal board, 25 wards under the Basedi municipal board, and 25 wards under the Sarmathura municipal board. With this second voting round, electoral polling across all 230 civic wards in the district will conclude. To maximize voter turnout and allow citizens ample time to participate in the democratic process, local administrative authorities have declared a official holiday in the respective election zones on their voting days, enabling workers and employees to visit polling booths without work-related disruptions.
Strict Prohibition Rules and Dry Day Notifications
To preserve law and order and guarantee fair voting conditions, the district administration has declared strict dry days prohibiting the sale and distribution of alcohol around polling areas. For the first voting phase, a mandatory dry period will be enforced starting from 6:00 PM on September 7 until 6:00 PM on September 9. Similarly, for the second phase, the prohibition on liquor sales will run from 6:00 PM on September 9 through 6:00 PM on September 11. Alcohol sales will remain completely banned in the respective election areas on both voting days, September 9 and September 11. Furthermore, a district-wide dry day will also be observed on September 14, the official day set aside for vote counting.
Administrative Directives and Security Preparedness
District Election Officer Srinidhi BT announced the comprehensive election timetable alongside details regarding the dry day restrictions. Administrative oversight teams are implementing all necessary measures, including police deployment and booth management, to maintain peace, transparency, and order throughout the election cycle. Following the issuance of the formal public notification on August 27, political campaigning and candidate outreach are expected to intensify sharply across Dholpur district as parties and independent candidates mobilize voters.
