By-elections for 81 vacant local govt seats in Balochistan to be held on Aug 9

QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the schedule for by-elections on 81 vacant local government seats across 20 districts of Balochistan.

According to the schedule, polling will take place on August 9, 2026, while the election process will formally begin on June 30 with the issuance of public notices by returning officers.

The ECP said candidates will be able to submit their nomination papers from July 1 to July 3, while scrutiny of nominations will be conducted between July 6 and July 8. The preliminary list of candidates will be published on July 9.

Appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers may be filed from July 10 to July 13, with election tribunals set to decide the appeals by July 16. A revised list of candidates will be issued on July 17, candidates may withdraw their nominations by July 18, and the final list of candidates, along with the allocation of election symbols, will be published on July 20.

The by-elections will be held for 81 vacant general local council seats in the districts of Pishin (Breshore), Chagai, Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Dukki, Musa Khel, Sibi, Harnai, Kohlu, Nasirabad, Usta Muhammad, Kachhi, Jhal Magsi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Hub, Kech and Gwadar.

Balochistan last held general local government elections on May 29, 2022. Under the province’s local government laws, by-elections are conducted periodically to fill seats that become vacant due to reasons such as the death, resignation or disqualification of elected members. The previous round of local government by-elections was held in August 2025.

Political observers say that although the upcoming by-elections involve a limited number of seats, they will serve as an important test of political parties’ grassroots support, particularly at a time when local governments continue to play a key role in delivering governance at the community level.