Karnataka Government Moves to Amend Law for Ballot Paper Return in Rural Polls
The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has taken a decisive step to revert from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to traditional ballot papers for all local body elections in the state. This move follows a cabinet decision to introduce the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the forthcoming budget session of the legislature.
Cabinet Approves Bill for Transparency in Elections
In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the government approved the introduction of the amendment bill to facilitate the reversion to ballot papers. Law Minister H K Patil confirmed that the bill will be presented in both Houses of the state legislature. The decision aims to ensure transparency and confidentiality in the election process for local authorities, including rural and urban bodies.
The cabinet noted that conducting elections through ballot papers and ballot boxes, as done historically, will enhance the credibility of the electoral process. Additionally, the State Election Commission (SEC) will be entrusted with the responsibility of preparing and revising voter rolls for various local bodies, moving away from using rolls prepared for Assembly elections.
Background and Rationale for the Change
This decision builds on a previous cabinet resolution from last year, where the Congress-led government recommended that the SEC switch to ballot papers for all elections it conducts. The move came amid allegations of vote chori (vote theft) made by the Congress party, highlighting concerns over the integrity of EVMs.
State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi emphasized that there is no legal barrier to using ballot papers, stating, "There are two best practices. Ballot papers have been used since the beginning. For the past 20-30 years, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been used. There is no Act or Supreme Court order that bars ballot papers."
Impact on Upcoming Elections
The SEC had already announced last month that upcoming polls for five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will be held using ballot paper, with elections expected after May this year. With the new bill, this practice will extend to all local body elections, including:
- Rural local bodies such as zilla, taluk, and gram panchayats
- Urban local bodies such as municipal corporations, city municipal councils, town municipal councils, and town panchayats
Law Minister Patil reiterated last year that all upcoming elections for local bodies will use ballot papers rather than EVMs, underscoring the government's commitment to this change.
Key Points of the Amendment
- The bill aims to amend the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act to eliminate the use of EVMs in local polls.
- It seeks to revert to the older system of casting votes on ballot papers to enhance electoral integrity.
- The SEC will be empowered to prepare and revise voter rolls specifically for local body elections, ensuring greater accuracy and transparency.
This legislative move marks a significant shift in Karnataka's electoral process, prioritizing traditional methods over modern technology to address public trust and electoral fairness concerns.
