MPTC, ZPTC vote count in Andhra Pradesh: 365 centres, 20,000 personnel on duty
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh gears up for one of its largest local-body counting exercises — 365 centres, nearly 40,000 counting staff, and close to 20,000 police on duty. With turnout hitting 70.72%, nearly 10 percentage points above 2021, Saturday's results will be a live test of grassroots political sentiment across the state.
Key Takeaways
Vote counting for MPTC and ZPTC elections in Andhra Pradesh begins at 8 am on Saturday across 365 centres .
9,062 counting tables , 11,002 supervisors , and 28,692 counting staff have been deployed.
19,885 police personnel form a three-layer security arrangement; CCTV cameras, drones, and body-worn cameras in use.
Final voter turnout stood at 70.72% — up 9.81 percentage points from the 2021 elections.
77 ZPTC and 2,051 MPTC seats were won unopposed.
Fresh polls were held on Friday in cyclone-hit mandals and seven stations affected by booth capturing and ballot box damage.
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has put in place comprehensive arrangements for the counting of votes cast in the MPTC and ZPTC elections, scheduled to begin at 8 am on Saturday across 365 counting centres throughout the state. The exercise follows polling that recorded a 70.72% turnout — the highest in recent cycles for these local body elections.
Scale of Counting Operations
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha confirmed that 9,062 counting tables have been set up to handle the volume of ballots. A total of 11,002 counting supervisors and 28,692 counting assistants and staff have been deployed to manage the process efficiently.
Security arrangements are equally robust, with 19,885 police personnel positioned in a three-layer security formation around counting venues. CCTV cameras have been installed at all centres, and drones and body-worn cameras will be deployed in sensitive areas for real-time surveillance.
How the Counting Will Proceed
Counting will follow a structured sequence: postal ballot papers will be tallied first, after which the ballot papers from polling station boxes will be taken up. During the initial phase, pink-coloured MPTC ballot papers and white-coloured ZPTC ballot papers will be physically separated from each ballot box, bundled in sets of 25 with their vertical fold intact, and placed into separate drums for thorough mixing before counting commences.
Polling Backdrop: Turnout and Uncontested Wins
The polling phase covered 577 ZPTC and 7,707 MPTC seats and was held on Thursday. The final turnout of 70.72% represents a significant jump of 9.81 percentage points over the 2021 elections — a rise that analysts attribute to heightened local-level political mobilisation.
Notably, 77 ZPTC and 2,051 MPTC seats saw candidates returned unopposed after the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures passed with only one contender remaining.
Disruptions: Cyclone and Booth Incidents
The polling process was not without disruption. The 'Murasu' cyclone forced a deferral of voting in Gopalapuram mandal in East Godavari district and four mandals — Buttayagudem, Jeelugumilli, Polavaram, and Velairpadu — in Eluru district, with those areas polling on Friday.
Additionally, the district collectors of Ananthapur, Kurnool, Srikakulam, Markapuram, and Palnadu flagged incidents of booth capturing and ballot box damage in seven polling stations. The Commission ordered fresh elections at all seven locations on Friday.
With results expected to emerge through Saturday, the outcome will offer an early read on voter preferences at the grassroots level across Andhra Pradesh's mandal and district tiers.
Point of View
Often a leading indicator of which party has stronger grassroots machinery ahead of assembly contests. The incidents of booth capturing and cyclone-related disruptions, while isolated, test the Commission's credibility in ensuring result integrity. With over 2,000 seats already won unopposed, the competitive count on Saturday covers a narrower but politically consequential set of constituencies. How cleanly the Commission manages the Saturday count will set the tone for local-body governance credibility in the state.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will MPTC and ZPTC votes be counted in Andhra Pradesh?
Counting begins at 8 am on Saturday across 365 counting centres spread throughout Andhra Pradesh. The State Election Commission has set up 9,062 counting tables to handle the volume of ballots.
What was the voter turnout in the Andhra Pradesh MPTC and ZPTC elections?
The final turnout was 70.72%, which is 9.81 percentage points higher than the turnout recorded in the 2021 local body elections. Polling for 577 ZPTC and 7,707 MPTC seats was held on Thursday.
How many candidates won the MPTC and ZPTC elections unopposed?
A total of 77 ZPTC and 2,051 MPTC candidates were elected unopposed, as only one candidate remained in the contest after the withdrawal deadline in those constituencies.
Why was polling delayed in some Andhra Pradesh mandals?
The 'Murasu' cyclone forced a postponement of voting in Gopalapuram mandal in East Godavari district and four mandals in Eluru district; those areas voted on Friday. Additionally, fresh polls were ordered at seven polling stations in five districts following incidents of booth capturing and ballot box damage.
What security measures are in place for the MPTC and ZPTC counting?
19,885 police personnel have been deployed in a three-layer security arrangement at all counting centres. CCTV cameras are installed at every venue, and drones and body-worn cameras will monitor sensitive areas during the count.
