Ballot Paper Voting Returns As Karnataka Poll Body Ditches EVMs For Bengaluru Civic Body Elections

Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 14:04 IST

This came after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state cabinet had recommended to the state election commission last year to use ballot papers for local elections.

The Supreme Court has recently asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold the long-pending polls for Bengaluru local body by June 30. (File)

In a big decision, the Karnataka State Election Commission on Monday said that ballot paper will be used for Bengaluru Municipal Elections instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

This came after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state cabinet had recommended to the state election commission last year to use ballot papers for local elections.

“There may be many reasons. Once the state election takes a stand by consulting all the stakeholders in the matter. We have taken a decision," State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi said.

The elections for the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were held via EVMs in 2015.

The ruling party in Karnataka– Congress– has been pushing for the return of the ballot paper in the elections, alleging manipulation of EVMs to benefit the BJP. However, the Election Commission has so far dismissed these allegations.

When Will Bengaluru Civic Body Polls Be Held?

The Supreme Court has recently asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold the long-pending polls for Bengaluru local body by June 30.

The tenure of the earlier elected body for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) expired on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator was taking care of its day-to-day affairs.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice JK Maheshwari, which fixed the schedule for the poll process, said that the final ward-wise reservation list shall be published by the state government by February 20, and made it clear that no further extension shall be granted.

The order was passed on a plea of the Karnataka government which has challenged the high court’s December 2020 order that directed the State Election Commission to hold BBMP elections expeditiously after finalising the electoral rolls.

The top court is monitoring the compliance of its earlier orders regarding polls to the BBMP and the newly created municipal corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA).

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