To respect the Dhanteras festivities and streamline the voting process, the Rajasthan State Election Commission has shifted the calendar for the first three phases of the 2026 Panchayati Raj elections. The new timetable guarantees that no polling activity will overlap with the holiday.

Phase 1 – Revised Dates

  • Team departure: October 21
  • Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti voting: October 22
  • Panch & Sarpanch nominations: October 23
  • Panch & Sarpanch voting: October 24
  • Up‑Sarpanch election: October 25

Phase 2 – Updated Schedule

  • Team departure: October 27
  • Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti voting: October 28
  • Panch & Sarpanch nominations: October 29
  • Panch & Sarpanch voting: October 30
  • Up‑Sarpanch election: October 31

Phase 3 – New Timeline

  • Team departure: November 2
  • Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti voting: November 3
  • Panch & Sarpanch nominations: November 4
  • Panch & Sarpanch voting: November 5
  • Up‑Sarpanch election: November 6

Phase 4 – No Changes

  • Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti voting: November 14
  • Panch & Sarpanch voting: November 16
  • Result counting for Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti: November 20

The commission stressed that this realignment is solely to keep the electoral calendar distinct from Dhanteras celebrations. The polls will involve 41 Zila Parishads, 457 Panchayat Samitis and a massive 14,403 Gram Panchayats across Rajasthan.