Polling disrupted at multiple booths as voters wait in long queues
Jaipur: Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions and complaints of alleged fake voting disrupted polling at a number of centres across Rajasthan on Wednesday, officials said, even as the state recorded a turnout of 50.38% by 1 pm in the first phase of urban local body elections.
Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, covering 162 urban local bodies — including four municipal corporations, 27 municipal councils and 131 municipalities — where more than 20,000 candidates are contesting for 5,393 councillor posts, according to officials.
Where disruptions were reported
Officials said EVMs malfunctioned at specific booths, leading to temporary suspension of polling in those locations and long queues at others. Reported disruptions included:
- Ward 39, Sujangarh Municipal Council
- Ward 52, Bikaner
- A polling booth in Alwar city where voters expressed anger after a machine stopped working
- Long queues in Sawai Madhopur and Jodhpur following technical glitches
In addition to machine faults, complaints alleging fake voting surfaced from several wards across the state. The districts and wards named in official reports included:
- Wards 16 and 18 in Baran
- Ward 1, Dudu (Jaipur district)
- Ward 22, Bhilwara
- Ward 34, Jalore
- Ward 29, Bharatpur
Voter statistics and turnout extremes
A total of 57,52,278 voters were eligible to cast their ballots across 7,683 polling stations in the first phase, officials said. The highest recorded turnout by 1 pm was 81.28% in Sikari municipality in Deeg district, while the lowest was 36.67% in Bhilwara Municipal Corporation.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Eligible voters (phase 1) | 57,52,278 |
| Polling stations | 7,683 |
| Councillor posts | 5,393 |
| Turnout by 1 pm (statewide) | 50.38% |
| Highest turnout (by 1 pm) | 81.28% — Sikari municipality, Deeg |
| Lowest turnout (by 1 pm) | 36.67% — Bhilwara Municipal Corporation |
Scale and administrative scope
The first phase covers an extensive urban spread in Jaipur district alone, where voting was underway at 565 polling stations across 18 civic bodies. Names of urban local bodies in Jaipur district scheduled for polling included Manoharpur, Phulera, Sambhar, Kishangarh-Renwal, Shahpura, Dudu, Chaksu, Phagi, Jobner, Khejroli, Jamwaramgarh, Vatika, Kanota, Bassi, Bagru, Kaladera and Chomu, officials said.
Voting for all 309 urban local bodies in Rajasthan is being held in two phases on September 9 and 11, with counting scheduled for September 14.
Administrative response and likely follow-up
Officials reported that where EVMs malfunctioned, arrangements were made to replace or repair machines and ensure polling continued with minimal delay. The Election machinery typically follows established procedures in such cases — sealing affected machines, lodging incident reports and arranging replacement units — but the scale and timing of some faults led to visible voter frustration at a few centres.
Complaints of alleged fake voting will be subject to verification by election authorities before any further action is taken. The presence of complaints at multiple wards points to the need for careful scrutiny and possible rechecking of records and video monitoring where available.
What voters and candidates should know
- Polling hours remain from 7 am to 6 pm; voters in queue before 6 pm are entitled to vote.
- In case of EVM malfunction, polling officers are required to follow standard protocols including sealing the machine and calling for a replacement.
- Electors who witness irregularities can file formal complaints with the presiding officer or at the designated control room numbers published by the district election office.
As dusk drew near on a day of uneven technical performance, officials said they were working to keep disruptions isolated and ensure that the franchise was protected across the state’s dense urban landscape.
Meera Rathore is the Rajasthan correspondent reporting from Jaipur.
