The symbols will be assigned after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.

The commission said voters who do not wish to support any candidate will have the option of "None of the Above" (NOTA), which will appear as the last symbol on the ballot paper.

Thirty symbols for sarpanch candidates

The commission notified 30 symbols for sarpanch contestants. These include a ring, scissors, bat, football, women's purse, toothpaste, TV remote, dustbin, blackboard, okra, coconut grove, diamond, bucket, door handle, sieve, walking stick, cot, wooden plank, table, battery torch, brush, batsman, human figure, boat with canopy, biscuit, flute, chain, footwear, pinwheel and stumps.

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Separate set for ward member candidates

Ward member candidates will get a different set of symbols, including a gown, gas stove, stool, gas cylinder, cupboard, whistle, pot, dish antenna, grindstone, small pot, ice cream, glass tumbler, post box, envelope, hockey ball, necktie, cutting player, box, electric pole and kettle.

Names to be arranged alphabetically

Under the election rules, returning officers must prepare the final list of candidates after the withdrawal period ends. Candidates' names must be arranged in Telugu alphabetical order based on the first letter.

If two or more candidates share the same first name but have different surnames, the order must be fixed using the surnames. If both first name and surname match, the order must be decided using profession, residence and address.

Honorifics, academic titles, hereditary titles and professional titles may be used in candidate names, but these cannot be considered for alphabetical ordering.

Symbols to follow candidate order

The first symbol in the sarpanch symbol list will be allotted to the first candidate in the alphabetically arranged list, the second symbol to the next candidate, and so on. The same method will apply to ward member candidates.