No EVMs in Bengaluru GBA Elections 2026: After the high-voltage drama and technical problems seen during the 2026 BMC polls, Bengaluru has decided to return
to ballot papers for voting in the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, instead of using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The decision comes in the backdrop of the Maharashtra municipal elections, which were hit by technical glitches that led to delays and confusion. Amid these concerns, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced that elections to Bengaluru’s five city corporations under the GBA will be conducted using ballot papers in Congress-ruled Karnataka. Although the has not given a detailed explanation for moving away from EVMs, it has made it clear that ballot papers will be used without exception.
“Ballot papers are legally valid”
SEC Commissioner Sangreshi defended the move, saying that ballot papers remain a widely accepted and lawful method of voting. He pointed out that most local body elections in Karnataka are already held using ballot papers.
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“There are two established ways of conducting elections. Ballot papers have been used since the beginning, while EVMs came into use only 20–30 years ago. The use of ballot papers is not barred by law or by any Supreme Court judgement,” he said.
He added that there is no legal requirement that elections must be conducted only through EVMs, and ballot papers are neither outdated nor prohibited.
Congress government’s stand on EVMs
In September last year, the Karnataka government had decided to recommend to the SEC that all future panchayat and urban local body elections be held using ballot papers. The government had cited an erosion of public confidence and credibility in EVMs as the main reason.
“Even America uses ballot papers”
Backing the decision further, Sangreshi said that developed countries like the United States also use ballot papers. He noted that in India too, Gram Panchayat and cooperative elections are conducted using ballot papers, with EVMs largely restricted to Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
However, he acknowledged that the last Bengaluru corporation elections in 2015 were held using EVMs.
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GBA elections likely in May
According to the SEC, the GBA elections are likely to be held in May.
“Polls will be conducted tentatively after May 25, once the SSLC and PUC examinations are over, and before June 30,” Sangreshi said. He stressed that both ballot papers and EVMs are reliable systems and that the Supreme Court, while upholding EVMs, has never ruled out the use of ballot papers.
Underlining the legal basis for the decision, he said the GBA Act itself provides for elections through ballot papers.
“When the law allows it, why shouldn’t we use it?” he asked. The commissioner assured voters that election officials are fully prepared to manage the process within the stipulated time. “I don’t see any hurdles in conducting the elections through ballot papers,” he said, expressing confidence in a smooth and fair polling process.
