In a move that has sparked intense political debate, the Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) has officially confirmed that the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all other local body elections will be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi clarified on Monday (Jan 19) that while Assembly and Parliamentary elections remain under the purview of EVMs as per the Central Election Commission, the state’s local polls including Gram, Taluk, and Zilla Panchayats will return to the traditional paper ballot system.
Key Highlights of the SEC Announcement:
The Timeline: Polls for the GBA and Panchayats are scheduled to take place after May 25, 2026, with the SEC aiming to conclude the process by June.
The Legal Stance: Addressing concerns over the shift, Commissioner Sangreshi stated, "The Supreme Court has nowhere prohibited the use of ballot papers for local body elections. We are well within our constitutional rights to implement this system for GBA and other rural polls."
Logistics: The SEC plans to set up over 8,045 polling stations within the GBA limits to accommodate the manual counting process associated with ballots.
Political Context: The ‘Vote Theft’ Row
The decision comes amidst a heated political climate. The ruling Congress party has consistently raised concerns over "vote theft" and alleged EVM tampering in past cycles. By opting for ballots, the SEC’s move is being viewed by political analysts as an attempt to restore absolute public confidence and ensure transparency at the grassroots level.
However, the opposition has questioned the move, citing concerns over potential booth capturing and the significantly longer duration required for counting paper votes.
GBA Voter Draft Released
Coinciding with the ballot announcement, the SEC released the draft electoral roll for the GBA.
Total Electors: The draft identifies 88,91,489 (approx. 88.91 lakh) eligible voters in the Greater Bengaluru region.
Demographics: The list includes roughly 45.8 lakh men, 43.1 lakh women, and over 1,200 voters in the 'others' category.
Next Steps: Citizens have until February 2, 2026, to file objections or corrections, with the final list set for publication on March 16. SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS I 128GB Card for 4K Video for DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras 200MB/s Read & 90MB/s Write
The Verdict
The shift back to ballots for the 2026 "Triple-Tier" elections represents a major administrative undertaking. With the GBA elections alone covering 369 wards, the transition to paper will require a massive deployment of manpower and tighter security measures to prevent irregularities.
As Bengaluru gears up for its first civic poll in nearly six years, the "Ballot vs. EVM" debate is set to remain at the forefront of the city's political discourse. Also Read: Greater Bengaluru Authority Elections: Draft Electoral Rolls Released for 88.91 Lakh Voters Across 369 Wards!?