Polling begins across 162 civic bodies; authorities report technical snags in multiple districts
Voting opened on Wednesday morning for the first phase of Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, with polling scheduled from 7 am to 6 pm at booths set up across the state. The exercise covers 162 civic bodies — including four municipal corporations — and has attracted a crowded field of aspirants competing for councillor posts.
Election officials said arrangements were in place at thousands of booths, but incidents of electronic voting machine (EVM) problems disrupted polling at some locations, triggering protests and long queues. Reports of technical glitches came from districts including Alwar, Sawai Madhopur and Jodhpur, according to field accounts and official communications released during the day.
Scale and scope of the first phase
This tranche of voting covers the first half of Rajasthan’s urban local bodies, and officials expect the process to conclude smoothly despite early hiccups. Key figures for the first phase are:
- 162 urban bodies going to polls
- 5,393 councillor seats
- 20,623 candidates in the fray
- 57.5 lakh eligible voters
- 7,683 polling stations
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Urban bodies (phase I) | 162 |
| Councillor seats | 5,393 |
| Candidates | 20,623 |
| Voters | 57.5 lakh |
| Polling stations | 7,683 |
Where voting is taking place
The first phase includes four municipal corporations — located in Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner and Bhilwara — alongside 27 municipal councils and 131 municipalities. Jaipur district is part of the schedule, with polling under way at 565 booths across 18 urban local bodies. Towns in the Jaipur orbit that went to the polls include Chomu, Bassi, Bagru, Chaksu, Phagi, Shahpura, Sambhar, Phulera, Dudu, Jobner, Kanota and Kaladera.
Technical problems and public response
Early in the day voters at some centres raised objections after EVMs reportedly malfunctioned. In Alwar, polling was briefly disrupted as residents protested when a machine failed. Similar issues in Sawai Madhopur and Jodhpur led to queues forming outside polling stations and delays in voting. Election officials said contingency procedures, including replacement of affected machines and additional staff deployment, were being implemented to minimise inconvenience.
Officials urged voters to remain patient and cooperate with polling personnel, while also assuring that definitive counts will follow only after polling concludes and formal procedures are observed at strong rooms and counting centres.
Procedural and administrative arrangements
Authorities established thousands of booths aimed at ensuring accessible voting across urban wards, with special attention to security, voter facilitation and adherence to the election code of conduct. Presiding officers and polling staff were positioned at every booth, and teams remained on standby to respond to technical or logistical problems.
Security arrangements and monitoring were reported in progress with local police overseeing smooth conduct at sensitive locations. Election management invoked standard protocols for EVM troubleshooting and replacement; officials said Voter-verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips will be used according to procedure where applicable.
Next phase and wider context
The civic polls to Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies are being conducted in two parts, with the second phase scheduled for 11 September. The outcome will determine leadership at municipal corporations, councils and municipalities responsible for civic services, local planning and development across towns and smaller cities in the state.
Once both phases are completed, authorities will move to count and declare results as per the election schedule. Voter turnout data and any formal complaints lodged during polling will be processed by the returning officers for each body.
For residents of towns going to polls, officials suggested carrying valid identity documents, noting booth details in advance and allowing extra time in case of queues, as voting continues through to 6 pm.
Reporting from Jaipur.
