Bengaluru Civic Elections: GBA Seeks Extension for Voter Verification Processes
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has formally approached the State Election Commission (SEC) with a request for an extension to complete crucial election-related statutory processes. This move comes ahead of the upcoming polls for the five city corporations in Bengaluru, highlighting concerns over the tight timelines set by the electoral body.
Meeting with Political Parties Sparks Extension Request
During a recent meeting chaired by chief commissioner and district election officer Maheshwar Rao at the GBA head office, representatives from various political parties raised significant concerns regarding the revised schedule issued by the SEC on January 22. The draft ward-wise voters' list for the GBA elections was published on January 19, creating a narrow window for completing essential verification exercises.
Political party representatives emphasized the need for additional time to undertake critical tasks such as:
- Verifying duplication of assembly voters across different wards
- Matching ward-wise voter lists with assembly electoral rolls
- Incorporating eligible voters from supplementary assembly lists published after October 1, 2025
Following these discussions, Rao directed the election department to immediately draft and submit a formal request to the SEC, seeking an extension to ensure thorough completion of these vital democratic processes.
BPAC Advocates for Electronic Voting Machines in Civic Polls
In a parallel development, the Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC) has strongly advocated for the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming civic elections. A BPAC delegation led by the organization met with state election commissioner GS Sangreshi to present their case for modernizing the electoral process.
BPAC members characterized the government's decision to use traditional ballot papers as a regressive step, arguing that leveraging modern technology would significantly enhance voter confidence in the electoral system. The organization highlighted several advantages of EVM implementation:
- Elimination of Human Error: EVMs avoid the confusion and mistakes that frequently occur during manual ballot paper counting
- Faster Results Declaration: Electronic voting enables swift tabulation and announcement of election outcomes
- Resource Efficiency: Reduced manpower requirements and lower expenditure compared to traditional paper-based systems
In their official statement, BPAC emphasized that adopting EVMs represents a progressive approach to election management, ensuring greater accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in the democratic process.
The convergence of these two developments—the GBA's request for extended verification timelines and BPAC's push for technological modernization—creates a significant moment in Bengaluru's electoral landscape. As the city prepares for crucial civic polls, these discussions highlight the ongoing efforts to balance thorough electoral preparation with modern administrative practices that can strengthen democratic participation and trust.
