Jaipur: Electronic voting machine (EVM) related problems and complaints of name mismatches disrupted polling at several booths during the second and final phase of Rajasthan's urban local body elections on Friday, officials said. Despite the difficulties, a tentative voter turnout of 70.01 per cent was recorded till 6 pm.
Polling scale and turnout
Election authorities said that by 6 pm, 61,35,153 of the 87,63,595 registered electors had cast their votes across 147 urban local bodies. The second phase included polling in six municipal corporations where turnout varied by city.
| Municipal corporation | Polling till 6 pm (%) |
|---|---|
| Jodhpur | 71.10 |
| Pali | 70.94 |
| Udaipur | 67.26 |
| Ajmer | 63.65 |
| Jaipur | 62.88 |
| Kota | 57.02 |
Nature of complaints and disruptions
Officials reported a range of issues at polling stations. The principal complaints included technical glitches with EVMs, mismatches between the names on electoral rolls and those of voters presenting themselves to vote, and allegations of bogus voting. There were also reports of sporadic clashes at some locations, which briefly affected the polling process in those areas.
- EVM-related glitches: Several booths reported machine malfunction or operational problems that delayed polling or required technical intervention.
- Name-mismatch cases: Many voters were believed to have faced difficulty casting their ballots after discovering a discrepancy between their identity and the name reflected on the electoral roll at the booth.
- Bogus voting and clashes: Allegations of unauthorised voting and intermittent scuffles were reported from multiple locations, prompting on-ground officials to intervene.
Administrative response
Polling officials worked to address technical issues and resume voting at affected booths. Contingency measures such as standby technical teams and verification procedures were reportedly deployed to minimise disruption. Where clashes occurred, law enforcement stepped in to restore order and ensure voters' safety while continuing polling at nearby stations.
"A tentative voter turnout of 70.01 per cent was recorded till 6 pm," officials said.
Implications for voters and local authorities
The reported name-mismatch complaints highlight continuing challenges with maintaining and updating electoral rolls in fast-growing urban centres. Voters who face such mismatches may be required to present additional documentation or follow post-poll grievance mechanisms, which can delay or prevent participation in the electoral process.
Election management in urban local body polls is especially sensitive due to dense populations and closely contested wards. Disruptions from EVM faults or allegations of bogus voting can erode public confidence and invite legal challenges from candidates or parties. Local authorities will need to examine the incidents, document technical faults and process complaints through the established election grievance channels.
Next steps and oversight
Officials indicated that comprehensive tallies and final turnout figures would be compiled after polling concluded and all reports from booths were received. Any formal complaints regarding EVM malfunction, identity mismatches or incidents of unlawful voting are expected to be examined by the returning officers and, where necessary, by the state election authorities in accordance with the law.
The second phase concludes a staggered schedule of urban local body elections across Rajasthan. The outcomes will determine municipal administrations in several key cities and will be watched closely for their administrative and political implications.
Further updates, including final turnout figures and formal incident reports, are awaited as election officials complete the counting of inputs from all polling stations and assess complaints received during the day.
