Polling under way for 100 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh, counting on November 3

Voting began on Sunday morning for 100 urban local bodies (ULBs) across Andhra Pradesh, with electors turning up at polling stations to exercise their franchise. Polling opened at 7 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m., according to the revised schedule issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission.

The elections cover 13 municipal corporations and 87 municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. Counting of votes has been scheduled for November 3.

Urban local bodies form the third tier of governance closest to citizens. Municipal corporations, municipalities and Nagar Panchayats are responsible for civic services such as drinking water supply, sanitation and solid waste management, local roads and street lighting, drainage and public health oversight in towns and smaller urban settlements. The outcome of these elections determines who sits on the councils that take these decisions and how civic budgets are prioritised at the local level.

Eight municipalities and Nagar Panchayats — Allagadda, Dachepalli, Darsi, Gurajala, Kamalapuram, Piduguralla, Proddatur and Rayachoti — did not go to the polls at all. In these bodies, both the chairpersons and the ward members were elected unopposed, the Commission's schedule showed.

In the NTR district, District Collector G. Lakshmisha said comprehensive arrangements had been made to ensure the peaceful and successful conduct of elections within the limits of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and four municipalities in the district.

Ahead of polling, Mr. Lakshmisha, District Election Expenditure Observer B. Vijay Kumar and Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dhyanachandra H.M. visited the distribution centre at Loyola College in Vijayawada on Saturday, October 31. They inspected the election materials and the various forms being supplied to polling teams before the teams were dispatched to their assigned stations.

Election officials have repeatedly stressed that the arrangements cover the logistics of the exercise — the movement of polling personnel, voting materials and records between distribution centres and booths, and the collection of material after voting closes.

Urban body elections in Andhra Pradesh have been watched closely because town-level governance touches everyday concerns: water supply schedules, garbage collection, drainage in the monsoon months, and the condition of local roads. Voters in these polls elect ward members and, in most cases, indirectly or directly choose the chairperson or mayor who heads the council.

Turnout figures for the day were not immediately available. The State Election Commission is expected to release details of the polling percentage after voting ends at 5 p.m.

With polling underway in a large number of towns simultaneously, the focus in the coming days will shift to the counting centres, where votes polled on Sunday will be tallied on November 3. Results from the 100 bodies will together shape the composition of urban governance in the State for the term ahead.

Electors who have not yet voted have until 5 p.m. to reach their designated polling stations. Those in the queue at the closing hour are ordinarily permitted to cast their vote. Voters are advised to carry an accepted photo identification document and to check their ward and booth details with the local municipal office or the State Election Commission's notifications.