Karnataka cabinet recommends ballot papers for local body polls in place of EVMs

BENGALURU: In a significant move ahead of the elections to the five new corporations in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet on Thursday decided to send a recommendation to the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct elections to local bodies through ballot paper in place of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The cabinet also decided to recommend to the SEC to change the rules accordingly to use ballot paper for local body elections. “Voters are losing trust in the EVMs and hence, the cabinet decided to opt for ballott papers in place of EVMs for the local body polls”, Law Minister H K Patil told media persons after the cabinet meeting.

He also said that the government will change the rules in the next 15 days and added that it will be binding on the SEC to follow them. “Usually, the voter list prepared for the Assembly polls would be considered for the local body polls too. Now, let the SEC consider whatever basis they want, but they should completely revise the voter list and in the event necessary, even redo it and prepare a good voters’ list. Hence, we are making the recommendations”, he added.