Kolhapur Municipal Elections 2026: Complete Voter Guide and Schedule
Overview: The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation election is part of the statewide municipal corporation polls scheduled in Maharashtra for January 2026; polling for municipal corporations will be conducted in a single phase, with counting to follow the next day.
Key dates and timeline
The State Election Commission has announced that nomination filing, scrutiny, withdrawal, polling and counting will follow a fixed timetable for municipal corporation elections in January 2026.
Important milestones:
- Nomination filing window — late December (nomination filing typically opens in the final week of December and closes before year-end).
- Scrutiny of nominations — immediately after the filing window closes, normally on the last day of December or the first scheduled scrutiny date.
- Last date for withdrawal — the first days of January, before the poll notification’s freeze on candidates.
- Polling day — mid-January (municipal corporation polling is scheduled on a single day in January 2026).
- Counting of votes — the day after polling.
These dates designate when the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect, when campaigning restrictions are applied and when the final candidate lists are fixed.
Who can vote and how to check your name
All residents of Kolhapur who are registered electors in the municipal rolls and are 18 years of age or older on the qualifying date are eligible to vote in the municipal corporation election.
To confirm registration and polling details:
- Check your name on the final ward-wise or polling-station voter list published by the municipal authorities.
- Look for your polling station and serial number on the published lists to avoid last-minute confusion.
- If your name is missing or incorrect, use the voter grievance or correction window provided by the municipal returning officer before the rolls are finalized.
Special voter notes and duplicate entries
The election administration may mark duplicate entries and require special declarations from voters whose names appear more than once on the rolls; such measures are intended to prevent multiple voting and to streamline verification at polling stations.
If your record shows a duplicate entry, follow the instructions in the published voter list and carry any required declaration or identity documents to your polling station.
What to carry to the polling station
Voters should carry an approved photo ID and any other documents specified in the voter instructions for the Kolhapur polls.
Commonly accepted IDs include government-issued photo identity cards; check the specific list published with the poll notification to ensure your ID will be accepted.
Polling day: rules and conduct
On polling day, voters must visit the polling station indicated on their voter slip or the published lists and follow directions from polling officials.
Remember that campaigning and political activity near polling stations are restricted under the Model Code of Conduct; adhere to authorities’ instructions regarding queues, identity verification and stamp marking of ballot papers or EVM procedures.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and counting
Municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra are conducted using Electronic Voting Machines; counting is scheduled to begin the day after polling and is conducted under the supervision of the State Election Commission and designated returning officers.
How candidates are nominated and how results are declared
Prospective candidates must file nomination papers during the announced window, undergo scrutiny and either withdraw by the withdrawal deadline or proceed to contest the election. The final list of contestants for each ward is published after scrutiny and withdrawal deadlines pass.
Counting of votes for Kolhapur seats will take place on the date notified by the election commission; results for the municipal corporation are declared following verification and tabulation of votes.
Accessibility, assistance and grievance redressal
Polling stations provide facilities for elderly and differently abled voters as per election rules; ramp access, signage and assistance by polling staff are typically available. For grievances such as missing names, incorrect details or polling station issues, contact the municipal returning officer or the State Election Commission helpline provided in the official poll notification.
How to stay informed
Voters should watch official announcements from the State Election Commission and the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation for the exact schedule, ward-wise voter lists, polling station lists and any last-minute changes. Local administration offices and municipal websites publish the authoritative notifications; subscribe to official channels or visit the municipal office if you need printed copies.
For further procedural details and the final schedule when released, visit your municipal office or the State Election Commission’s official portal for municipal elections. Official poll portal
Final reminder: Verify your name and polling station well before polling day, carry an approved ID to the polling station, and follow polling officials’ instructions to ensure your vote is counted without delay.
