The State Election Commission (SEC) has announced that voting for 29 municipal corporations throughout Maharashtra, including the civic body of Mumbai, will take place in a single phase on January 15, 2026. All 227 wards in Greater Mumbai will participate in the voting.
The counting of votes is scheduled for the following day.
This announcement follows several court mandates to expedite the long-overdue local body elections in the state.
Schedule and Important Dates for the 2026 BMC Election
The official election process commenced in December.
On December 15, 2025, the SEC released the notification detailing the schedule for nominations, withdrawals, polling, and counting.
Key dates are outlined below:
January 15, 2026: Voting day.
January 16, 2026: Counting and announcement of results.
Voting will occur on January 15 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at designated stations throughout Mumbai.
The SEC has declared this day as a public holiday in the municipal corporation areas to facilitate voter participation.
According to PTI, more than 1.03 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in the BMC elections.
Officials have noted that standard voter ID regulations will be enforced, with polling conducted under the Model Code of Conduct, remaining in effect until the results are declared.
Security measures and staffing are being coordinated by the Mumbai civic administration in collaboration with the state election authority.
Importance of the 2026 Mumbai Civic Election
The BMC is the wealthiest municipal body in India, overseeing civic services for a population exceeding 12 million. The last complete term BMC election was held in 2017, after which administrators have managed the corporation due to the expiration of the elected body’s term.
Legal disputes, ward delimitations, and changes in reservations contributed to the postponement.
Ballot boxes and electronic records will be transferred to counting centers overnight.
Results are anticipated on January 16, pending the completion of counting and verification.
