Local TV channels quoted the police as saying that the explosive-laden car was parked outside a polling station in the Buner district, which exploded when many voters were present to vote.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The polling station was set up in a school building which was also completely destroyed. Several nearby buildings collapsed, leaving scores of people buried under the rubbles.
The National Assembly seat has fallen vacant due to the death of lawmaker Abdul Matin Khan.
Police said that supporters of political parties had set up camps outside the polling station. Several supporters of different political parties were also killed and injured in the attack.
Buner is near the restive Swat valley, where security forces are engaged in major offensive against militants.
Four months ago, local people in Buner publicly executed six armed Taliban after they formed a "Lashkar" or militia to expel the militants.
Taliban later killed one senior member of the Lashkar.
The election authorities suspended polling in the constituency and the people rushed to the blast site to pull the bodies and the injured from the rubbles.
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