Bill passed allowing voter registration in PR institutions four times a year

The Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill–2026, paving the way for eligible youth to register as voters four times a year after attaining the age of 18.

The Bill was introduced by Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply K. Pawan Kalyan.

The session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, and members across parties welcomed the legislation.

Under the previous system, January 1 was the sole qualifying date for voter registration in the Panchayat Raj institutions. As a result, individuals who turned 18 on January 2 had to wait an entire year to enroll as voters.

The amendment now allows voter registration on four qualifying dates each year — January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

The revised provision aligns Panchayat Raj institutions with the existing system followed for Assembly and Parliament elections under central law, as well as municipal bodies. With this move, a uniform voter list system would be implemented across the State.

The coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had earlier promulgated an Ordinance on December 23, 2025, to this effect. The Assembly now granted legislative approval during the ongoing session.

During the discussion on the Bill, MLAs Lokam Naga Madhavi (Nellimarla), N. Eswara Rao (Etcherla), and Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary (Rajamahendravaram Rural) participated and suggested that irregularities in voter lists be eliminated to ensure transparency.

Mr. Durgesh assured the House that their suggestions would be brought to the attention of Mr. Pawan Kalyan. Mr. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju later announced that the Bill had been passed unanimously by the House.