The State Election Commission has made a clear decision for Bengaluru's upcoming civic polls. Elections to the city's five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority will use traditional ballot papers. Electronic Voting Machines will not feature in this electoral process.
Poll Schedule and Commission's Stance
Commissioner Sangreshi from the Karnataka State Election Commission addressed the media on Monday. He defended the choice to use ballot papers instead of EVMs. "Most local body elections in our state still employ ballot papers," Sangreshi stated. "Why should we avoid them? No rule mandates EVM use exclusively, and no ban exists on ballot papers."
The commission plans to hold these elections after May 25. This timing ensures the polls occur once SSLC and PUC examinations conclude. The SEC did not provide specific reasons for selecting ballot papers over EVMs. However, officials confirmed EVMs will not appear in the upcoming corporation elections.
Addressing Concerns About Fairness
Some citizens expressed worries about possible malpractices with ballot papers. Commissioner Sangreshi responded directly to these concerns. He promised adequate staff deployment at all polling booths. CCTV cameras will also monitor voting locations to ensure transparency.
"We will have no problem conducting elections through ballot papers," Sangreshi emphasized. The commission remains confident about managing a free and fair election process using this method.
Political Suggestions and Voter Registration
The BJP recently wrote to the election commission. Their letter suggested using EVMs for the Greater Bengaluru Authority corporator polls. Despite this political input, the commission maintained its ballot paper decision.
Citizens can now access the draft electoral roll on the GBA website. The commission will provide a fifteen-day window for voters to make corrections. This period allows for additions, deletions, and transfers on the voter list. Officials expect to release the final voter list on March 16.
The draft list contains impressive numbers. It includes a total of 88,91,411 voters across Bengaluru. This figure breaks down to 45,69,193 men, 43,20,583 women, and 1,635 others. The West City Corporation leads with the highest voter count at 27,25,714. The East City Corporation has the lowest number at 10,41,738.
Encouraging Voter Participation
The State Election Commission actively encourages citizen participation. They want all eligible voters to register and exercise their franchise. Voters will receive an opportunity to add their names until the nomination date arrives.
This ballot paper decision marks a significant development for Bengaluru's democratic process. It represents a return to traditional voting methods for important civic elections. The commission's confidence in managing this process suggests smooth elections ahead.
