14 January,2026 11:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday, January 16. Representational Pic/File
Polling for the BMC Election 2026 will be held on Thursday, January 15, across all 227 wards in the city. Voters will elect representatives for the civic body in what is expected to be a high-stakes municipal poll.
The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday, January 16, and will be conducted at 23 designated locations across Mumbai, each under the supervision of an appointed Returning Officer.
The BMC on Wednesday stated that all counting centres will have strong rooms, CCTV surveillance and adequate police security to ensure a transparent and secure process. Only authorised representatives, election staff and officials will be allowed at the centres.
Sources said that a mock voting exercise will be conducted on 15 January between 5:30 am and 7 am to ensure smooth operations. The session is aimed to familiarise polling staff and test voting equipment ahead of the actual polling which would began thereafter.
According to an official statement, a total of 227 election wards fall under the BMC limits, for which 23 Election Returning Officers have been appointed. Separate strong rooms and counting centres have been finalised for each Returning Officer's office.
The BMC administration said all counting centres and strong rooms have received the necessary approvals from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the police authorities.
These arrangements are aimed at ensuring a transparent, smooth and secure counting process.
Counting centres have been set up zone-wise across Mumbai, covering all administrative wards including R North, R Central, R South, P North, P East, P South, K West, K East, H East, H West, T, S, N, M East, M West, L, F North, G North, G South, F South, D, C, B, A and E wards.
The locations include municipal schools, sports complexes, colleges, auditoriums, stadiums and administrative buildings in areas such as Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Andheri, Santacruz, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Chembur, Kurla, Sion, Dadar, Worli, Girgaum and Byculla.
Each counting centre has been assigned specific ward numbers and a designated Returning Officer.
The civic body has confirmed that all counting venues will be equipped with CCTV surveillance and adequate police deployment to maintain law and order.
Only authorised candidates' representatives, counting staff and designated officials will be allowed entry, and all concerned have been instructed to be present strictly as per the allotted schedule.
Officials said the entire counting exercise has been planned to ensure transparency, accuracy and safety, in line with Election Commission guidelines.
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