K’taka bill seeks paper ballots for panchayat polls

Bengaluru: Paper ballots may make a partial comeback to Karnataka's electoral process after 11 years, with the state govt Tuesday introducing a bill to ban the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the forthcoming panchayat polls. The decision is in line with the Congress party's national "vote chori" campaign led by Rahul Gandhi. The party has sought scrapping of EVMs in local body and panchayat elections, citing erosion of confidence and credibility among a section of voters over use of voting machines. The bill also removes the provision that allows preparation of electoral rolls by the election commission. Instead, electoral rolls will now be prepared by the assistant commissioner of zilla panchayat. Elections to zilla and taluk panchayats in the state have been overdue for nearly five years now. The amendment to the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act has removed all references to EVMs and replaced those with provisions for voting through ballots. The bill, though, is likely to trigger a heated debate in the legislature, wit BJP calling it regressive. Opposition leaders have questioned how Congress could secure such a decisive victory in the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections if EVMs were indeed unreliable? EVMs were first introduced in Karnataka panchayat elections in 2015. Explaining the rationale, rural development and panchayati raj minister Priyank Kharge said the amendments are intended to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process. The bill states that the changes are meant to reflect the democratic will of the people under Article 326 of the Constitution. It also notes that the amendments will ensure secrecy of ballot, and protect voters from coercion and undue influence. KEY POINTS (for gfx):* Paper ballots may return to Karnataka's panchayat polls after 11 years* Move aligns with Congress party's national campaign questioning credibility of EVMs * Proposed amendment removes all references to EVMs and mandates voting through paper ballots * Bill moves responsibility of preparing electoral rolls from election commission to assistant commissioner of zilla panchayat * Move expected to spark a political row, with BJP calling it regressive