UP Panchayat Elections to Proceed on Schedule Despite Census Announcement
In Lucknow, a senior state election official has confirmed that the upcoming Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections are likely to be conducted on time, despite the recent announcement of census dates by the central government. The official emphasized that there are no plans to delay or postpone the electoral process, as both the census and panchayat elections operate under separate mandates.
Census and Elections: Separate Timelines and Jurisdictions
The 2027 census of India is scheduled to be conducted in two phases: the House listing and Housing Census from April to September 2026, followed by Population Enumeration in February 2027. In contrast, the tentative dates for the panchayat polls point towards the final publication of updated electoral rolls by March 28, which would pave the way for a three-phase election. The official clarified that the census is conducted by the central government, while panchayat elections fall under the jurisdiction of the state government, allowing both processes to proceed independently.
Manpower Concerns and Legal Petitions Addressed
A key concern had been the availability of manpower, given that both the census and elections rely on similar pools of government staff, including teachers, shiksha mitras, and lekhpals. However, election officials have stated that there is no significant overlap expected in timing, and they are confident in managing both processes without conflict. The official acknowledged that some petitioners have approached the court seeking timely declaration of the polls but affirmed that the poll body is proceeding with preparations to ensure readiness.
Innovative Technology: Face Recognition System for Election Integrity
One of the notable advancements planned for this election cycle is the implementation of a Face Recognition System (FRS) to prevent duplicate voting. If deployed, this would mark the first large-scale use of such technology in the state. The system would work by capturing a voter's photo at the booth in real-time and instantly cross-checking it against a central database to block any second attempts. While this may require an additional staff member per booth, officials note that the system is largely software-based and can be managed with existing mobile devices. Contingency plans are also being considered in case of signal or technical failures, with parallel manual systems serving as a backup.
Scale and Logistics of the Election Process
In terms of scale, the state anticipates needing staff for approximately 56,000 booths, corresponding to the number of gram panchayats. With 4-5 personnel required per booth, the total manpower needed will depend on whether the elections are conducted in three or four phases—a decision that hinges on staff availability and the finalization of the voter list.
Voter Data Discrepancies and Clean-Up Efforts
On the issue of voter data, the official addressed a discrepancy between the state's rural voter count, which is around 12.69 crore, and the Election Commission of India's overall Uttar Pradesh figure of approximately 12.55 crore. This gap is attributed to duplicate entries and the exclusion of urban data from the panchayat rolls. In response, the state has initiated a re-verification drive, conducting district and block-level deduplication to finalize a clean and accurate voter list.
Overall, the Uttar Pradesh election authorities are moving forward with comprehensive preparations to ensure a smooth and timely panchayat election, leveraging technology and addressing logistical challenges to uphold electoral integrity.
