GBA Polls Update: Bengaluru Civic Body Polls After May 25: Ballot Papers To Be Used Instead Of EVMs

Bengaluru civic body polls for the five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority will be held after May 25, using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines. It must be noted that this move comes after the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka cabinet recommended last year that all future local body elections be conducted using ballot papers.

The Karnataka State Election Commission linked the schedule to the completion of SSLC and PUC examinations and confirmed that EVMs will not be deployed for these corporator elections.

The draft electoral roll for the Bengaluru civic body polls is already available on the GBA website, gba.karnataka.gov.in. Citizens get a 15-day window to seek corrections, add new names, request deletions, or shift entries. The commission plans to publish the final voter list on March 16, ahead of the polling schedule.

Bengaluru civic body polls voter data and ballot papers decision

The draft roll lists 88,91,411 voters in total. This includes 45,69,193 men, 43,20,583 women, and 1,635 voters recorded as others. Among the five corporations, West City Corporation has the highest voter strength at 27,25,714, while East City Corporation has the lowest at 10,41,738, showing sharp differences in voter concentration across the city.

The Karnataka State Election Commission Commissioner Sangreshi defended the switch to paper ballots during a media interaction on Monday. "Most of our local body elections are still held using ballot papers. Why shouldn't we use them? There is no mandate that only EVMs should be used, nor is there any ban on ballot papers," Sangreshi said, stressing that the law permits both systems.

Bengaluru civic body polls, security plans and EVM demand

There were questions about possible malpractice with ballot papers. Sangreshi responded that extra personnel and cameras will be in place at every booth. The official said adequate staff will manage counting and strongrooms, and added, "We will have no problem conducting elections through ballot papers," expressing confidence in the administrative arrangements.

Sangreshi also told English daily that the BJP had written to the commission urging the use of EVMs for the Greater Bengaluru Authority corporator polls. Despite that request, the commission decided to go ahead with ballot papers, while maintaining that this choice stays within existing rules for local body elections.

The Bengaluru civic body polls voter roll data released in draft form is as follows:

For the Bengaluru civic body polls, the commission has urged residents to check their details and ensure they are registered. Officials said voters will still be allowed to include their names until the last date for filing nominations, giving citizens more time to join the rolls before the ballot-based elections are conducted.