Karnataka cabinet decides to conduct local body elections using ballot papers

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has decided to conduct upcoming local body elections through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The decision was taken during the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday.

With the tenure of most Gram Panchayats in the state coming to an end in February and March this year, the government has also ordered the appointment of administrators to manage local bodies until fresh elections are held.

At the same time, preparations have begun to conduct Gram Panchayat elections in April–May 2026, and directions have been issued to all district collectors to initiate necessary arrangements.

In today’s cabinet meeting, approval was given to the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill–2026, which proposes the use of ballot papers for all local body elections. This includes elections to District Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats, Town Municipalities and Gram Panchayats.

The government justified the decision by stating that public confidence in EVMs has declined in recent years due to allegations of manipulation and technical glitches. “There have been several complaints regarding misuse of EVMs and doubts about vote theft.

Hence, the cabinet has decided to inform the State Election Commission to conduct local body elections using ballot papers,” an official statement said. Earlier, the state government had already resolved to hold the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections using ballot papers.

The State Election Commission had also indicated that EVMs would not be used for the GBA polls. Extending the same policy, the government has now decided to follow the ballot system for all upcoming local elections across Karnataka.

The tenure of elected representatives in a majority of the 5,948 Gram Panchayats in Karnataka is set to expire shortly. Out of these, elections were held for 5,698 Gram Panchayats in December 2020, while the elections for presidents and vice-presidents were conducted in 2021–22.

As a result, the five-year term of these elected bodies will end by the second week of February 2026. Along with these, 92 more Gram Panchayats whose tenure ends in March 2026 will also go to polls.

The State Election Commission has already urged the government to issue reservation notifications for these local bodies within the prescribed time frame so that the election process can begin smoothly.

Apart from Gram Panchayats, the term of 187 urban local bodies in the state has already expired. Further, elections to 31 Zilla Panchayats and 240 Taluk Panchayats have not been held since 2021, leaving these institutions without elected representatives.

Considering all these pending elections, the government is planning to conduct polls to various local bodies simultaneously in April and May 2026. The shift from EVMs to ballot papers is expected to bring major changes to the election process and logistics in the state.

Officials said detailed guidelines and procedures regarding the new voting method would be issued soon in coordination with the State Election Commission.

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