An average of 17.73 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling for the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-elections-2026-voter-photo-id-card-12-other-identity-proofs-valid-for-polling-23611953" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation</a> (BMC) elections 2026 on Thursday, the civic body said.
Polling began at 7.30 am amid tight security arrangements across Mumbai and will continue till 5.30 pm.
The average voter turnout stood at 17.73 per cent till 11.30 am, the BMC said.
Data released by the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-mumbai-civic-body-gears-up-for-72-hour-continuous-operations-ahead-of-january-15-polls-23611894" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">civic body</a> showed wide variations in voter participation across wards.
<h2>BMC polls vote counting to commence at 10 am on Jan 16: civic chief</h2>
The counting of votes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will start at 10 am on Friday, civic commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said on Thursday.
Voting was underway on Thursday for the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maharashtra-civic-elections-2026-voting-begins-across-29-municipal-corporations-23612093" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Maharashtra</a>.
Gagrani told reporters that due to the short gap between polling and counting, the counting of votes for all civic wards will start at 10 am on Friday.
This could result in the declaration of results later than usual.
"It may take an hour longer than usual," Gagrani said.
<h2>BMC rejects reports claiming indelible ink marks being wiped off voters' hands</h2>
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Thursday rejected reports claiming that the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-elections-2026-raj-thackeray-raises-concerns-over-voting-ink-civic-body-rejects-allegations-23612135" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">indelible ink</a> marks on voters' fingers were being wiped off during the ongoing civic polls and that the BMC chief had acknowledged the matter.
The civic body said in a statement that such media reports were factually incorrect.
It also asserted that BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani had not commented in this regard.
"The municipal commissioner has not made any statement whatsoever about indelible ink being wiped off after voting. Therefore, there is no factual basis to the reports being circulated in the media," the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-ballot-box-and-polling-material-distribution-complete-mumbai-civic-administration-ready-for-polls-23612030" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">BMC administration</a> said.
As per procedure, polling staff apply indelible ink to one finger of the voter's left hand at the time of casting the vote on the electronic voting machine at the polling station.
In the BMC, 1,700 candidates are vying for Mumbai's 227 electoral wards. A total of 10,231 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-polling-staff-make-final-arrangements-at-2600-voting-locations-across-mumbai-23612057" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">polling stations</a> have been set up across Mumbai, and 64,375 officers and staff have been deployed for duty.

An average of 17.73 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in first two hours of polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026

BMC elections 2026: 17.73 per cent voter turnout till 11.30 am

Thane civic elections 2026: Voter turnout reaches 19 per cent till 11.30 am

Polling began at 7.30 am amid tight security arrangements across Mumbai and will continue till 5.30 pm; data released by the civic body showed wide variations in voter participation across wards

BMC elections 2026: Voter turnout reaches 17.73 per cent till 11.30 am

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Home / Mumbai / Mumbai News / Article / BMC elections 2026: Voter turnout reaches 17.73 per cent till 11.30 am