Karnataka to scrap EVMs? Govt pushes for paper ballots in local body polls; voter list revision planned

BENGALURU: In a move that’s in sync with Congress party’s nationwide campaign against what it terms “vote theft”, the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday announced its decision to recommend to the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct upcoming panchayat and urban local body elections in the state through ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs).“We decided to recommend to the SEC to hold all upcoming polls through ballot papers instead of EVMs. This is because there is erosion of confidence and credibility among the people over EVMs,” said law & parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil after cabinet meeting.Patil further said the cabinet had decided to introduce necessary legal measures and amend existing rules to facilitate revision of electoral rolls by the SEC.

The cabinet’s decision to throw its lot behind ballot papers comes alongside a recommendation for a special revision of voter list ahead of polls to panchayats and the five newly formed municipal corporations in Bengaluru.“Over the last couple of months, there have been widespread concerns in Karnataka, and across the country, of vote theft due to mismatches, additions and deletions in the voter list,” Patil said.

Municipal poll rules will be amended: MinisterNow, we have decided to recommend to the SEC to conduct a revision of the voter list and ensure that there is no denial of opportunity to voters in Karnataka to cast their ballot,” minister HK Patil added.A senior minister also claimed the SEC itself had suggested a summary revision of the voter list under provisions of the recently sanctioned Section 35 of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Act, with the intention to extend it to other urban and rural bodies.

However, a decision is yet to be taken on whether to draw up an entirely fresh voter list or update the one used in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.Patil further said he himself had issued a 3,450-page report on how EVMs had turned out to be untrustworthy and were open to manipulation. “However, the Election Commission challenged me, saying I was not empowered to recommend any changes to the electoral system,” he said.Patil also said that the state govt would amend municipal election rules within the next two weeks.