Elections 2027: seven assemblies and a presidential vote

Seven state assemblies are due for elections in 2027. Manipur, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh complete their terms between March and May, and reports expect all five to vote together in February and March. Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat follow late in the year. The President of India’s five-year term, which began on 25 July 2022, also ends in July 2027.

Where things stand

No schedule has been announced as of 11 October. The groundwork is visible: census enumeration in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and non-snowbound Uttarakhand was moved to 1 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, in states ETV Bharat described as likely to go to the polls early next year. The Special Intensive Revision of rolls is complete in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur; Punjab and Uttarakhand await final rolls. In the 6 October bypolls, each seat went to the party governing that state.

Parties have begun preparing. In Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Nitin Nabin met about 65 state in-charges and co-in-charges at the end of September, with meetings planned in Lucknow and Mathura in early October, ANI reported. Senior Samajwadi Party and Congress leaders have stressed alliance unity, though MPs from each party have backed different leaders as its face (PTI). In Punjab, talk of a Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP tie-up after Sukhbir Badal met the Prime Minister on 7 August remains unconfirmed; the Punjab BJP chief says the party will contest all 117 seats alone.

Key dates

1. 1 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027Census enumeration in UP, Punjab, Goa and non-snowbound Uttarakhand.
2. 13 Mar 2027Manipur Assembly's term ends.
3. 14 Mar 2027Goa Assembly's term ends.
4. 16 Mar 2027Punjab Assembly's term ends.
5. 28 Mar 2027Uttarakhand Assembly's term ends.
6. 22 May 2027Uttar Pradesh Assembly's term ends.
7. Jul 2027President's term ends.
8. Nov to Dec 2027Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat expected to vote.

Key numbers

• 7state assemblies due for election in 2027
• 13 Mar 2027earliest term end (Manipur)
• 13.4 crorevoters on Uttar Pradesh's roll after SIR, down 13.2%

Key questions

Will all five states vote together? Reports expect it, before Manipur’s term ends on 13 March. The Election Commission has not announced dates.

Can polls be held early? The Representation of the People Act lets the Commission notify polls up to six months before a term ends.

Why was the census moved? The Registrar General’s notification brought the count forward in four of the five poll-bound states. ETV Bharat linked the change to the polls expected early next year; no official reason was given in the reports we read.

When do Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat vote? Late 2027. Himachal’s assembly first met on 22 December 2022 and Gujarat’s MLAs took oath on 19 December 2022, so both five-year terms run into December 2027. Track every date in our election calendar.