Paper ballots to return to Bengaluru civic polls after 25 years

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, January 20, 2026: Paper ballots are set to return to Bengaluru after a gap of 25 years, with the State Election Commission (SEC) deciding to dispense with electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the forthcoming elections to the five municipal corporations under Greater Bengaluru.

Justifying the move, the commission noted that several developed countries, including the United States, continue to use ballot papers and that there is no legal or judicial bar on their use.

State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi said the decision to revert to ballot papers was taken independently by the commission. “There are two globally accepted democratic practices — voting through EVMs and through ballot papers. Both are proven systems. Since the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act permits the use of either method, we have chosen ballot papers for this election,” he said. He added that the civic polls would be held between May 25 and June 30.

In the previous two municipal elections held in 2010 and 2015, voting was conducted using EVMs. Former councillors pointed out that ballot papers were last used in Bengaluru’s municipal elections in 2001.

Ballot papers will also be introduced for elections to the zilla and taluk panchayats, which have remained pending for the past five years. In Karnataka, gram panchayat elections are already conducted using ballot papers, as voters are required to vote for multiple candidates.

Addressing concerns over possible delays in vote counting due to the use of ballot papers, Sangreshi said the commission would make sufficient logistical arrangements to ensure that counting is completed on the same day. “We are fully equipped to conduct elections using ballot papers. There will be no hurdles. All counting centres will be under CCTV surveillance, and adequate police security will be provided,” he said.

Sangreshi also remarked that the return to ballot papers would give younger voters an opportunity to experience an alternative voting system, noting that EVMs have been in use for the past two to three decades. He dismissed suggestions that the decision was influenced by the Congress-led state government.

It may be noted that leaders of the Congress, which is in power in Karnataka, have on several occasions raised questions about the reliability of EVMs at both the state and national levels.