The elections for Village Councils and Municipal Councils in Mizoram were officially announced today, with a notable update regarding the election timeline and conduct. Amid ongoing legal controversy surrounding the shortening of the current Village Council term, the State Election Commission (SEC) declared that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) will come into effect from 2 PM on 16 January, 2025, and remain in force until 15 February, 2025. Despite the legal proceedings, the SEC affirmed that the elections would proceed as planned, unless directed otherwise by the High Court.
The Village Council elections are set for 12 February, 2025, and will take place across nine districts—Aizawl, Lunglei, Serchhip, Champhai, Mamit, Kolasib, Saitual, Khawzawl, and Hnahthial. A total of 439,409 electors are eligible to vote. Mamit district, with 92 Village Councils, holds the most councils, while Aizawl district, with 63,648 voters, has the largest electorate. Of the 2,416 Village Council seats, 613 are reserved for female candidates, although women can also run for general seats. In total, there are 544 Village Councils.
In parallel, elections for the Local Councils under the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Lunglei Municipal Council (LMC) will be held. A total of 111 Local Councils will vote, including 87 under AMC and 24 under LMC. The LMC election will be held separately for the first time since its formation in 2023, when it was previously combined with the AMC elections.
A significant change in this election is the introduction of the Person on Election Duty (PED) voting system, which allows electors serving on election duty to vote outside their place of registration, enhancing voter accessibility.
The last date for filing nominations is 23 February, 2025, with withdrawals permitted until 27 February, 2025. Meanwhile, the High Court is expected to conclude its review of the Village Council case by 30 January, 2025.
