Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Rajasthan Civic Polls See EVM Glitches, Turnout, Political Disputes
People in Rajasthan voted to choose members of their local city and town governments.
Voting took place in two phases on September 9 and September 11.
Many people voted, although the turnout figures differed by phase and reporting time.
Some electronic voting machines stopped working and caused delays.
Some voters also said their names did not match the official voter lists.
There were complaints about possible bogus voting and arguments at some polling places.
Several important political leaders cast their votes and urged people to participate.
Officials are scheduled to count the councillor votes on September 14.
Rajasthan’s first urban local body election phase recorded 50.38% turnout by 1 pm, while the second phase reached 57.38% by 3 pm.
EVM malfunctions disrupted polling in places including Sujangarh, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Kota and Pushkar, while some voters reported name mismatches.
Complaints and allegations of bogus voting, polling-station disputes and clashes between supporters were reported in several districts.
The second phase featured votes by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The two-phase elections cover Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies, with counting for councillor posts scheduled for September 14.
- Who
- Rajasthan voters, more than 38,000 candidates across both phases, election officials and political leaders participated in the urban local body elections.
- What
- Elections were held for councillor posts amid EVM malfunctions, voter-name mismatches, alleged bogus voting and polling-place disputes.
- When
- The first phase was held on September 9 and the second phase on September 11; polling ran from 7 am to 6 pm on both days.
- Where
- Polling took place across Rajasthan’s urban local bodies, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Alwar, Bhilwara and other districts.
- Why
- Voters were electing councillors for Rajasthan’s urban local bodies.
Election Officials and Ruling-Party Leaders
Opposition, Candidates and Voters Raising Complaints
Polling reliability
Election Officials and Ruling-Party Leaders
Officials reported turnout figures and said polling continued despite EVM glitches and voter-list problems at some booths.
Opposition, Candidates and Voters Raising Complaints
Voters and candidates reported delays from malfunctioning EVMs, name mismatches and alleged bogus voting in several wards.
Political conduct and election performance
Election Officials and Ruling-Party Leaders
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and BJP leaders urged citizens to vote, while BJP leaders expressed confidence in the party’s performance.
Opposition, Candidates and Voters Raising Complaints
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticized the BJP government, and Congress and Independent candidates raised allegations of bogus voting and polling-station irregularities.
- First-phase turnout
- 50.38% by 1 pm; the phase later recorded 76.41% overall turnout
- Second-phase turnout
- 57.38% by 3 pm
- Urban local bodies covered
- 309 across both phases; 162 in the first phase and 147 in the second
- Candidates
- More than 20,000 in the first phase and 18,266 in the second phase
- First-phase contest
- 5,393 councillor posts, 57,52,278 eligible voters and 7,683 polling stations
- Second-phase electorate
- 87,63,599 electors, of whom 50,28,768 had voted by 3 pm
- Counting date
- September 14 for councillor posts
- Further election dates
- Mayors and chairpersons on September 21; deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice-presidents on September 22
