Belagavi: Preparations are underway for the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) and Taluk Panchayat (TP) elections in Karnataka, scheduled for April and May. Ballot papers will replace Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) amid ongoing concerns about EVM hacking, announced State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi.

Arrangements are being made to conduct elections across 31 districts. The process of including eligible voters aged 18 and above in the voter list is ongoing. Delays in the elections were attributed to the District Reorganization Commission’s report and other factors. The elections will be conducted after receiving reservation lists from the concerned departments, Sangreshi stated during a press meet on Monday.

Voter Registration Deadline

The commissioner announced that citizens who turn 18 by the time of the poll notification can register as voters until the withdrawal of ballot papers. He urged all stakeholders to work towards corruption-free elections, assuring that the State Election Commission is taking stringent measures to ensure smooth proceedings.

Role of Officials and Plans for Ballot Paper Voting

District Commissioners will act as election officers at the district level, while Tahsildars will oversee the taluk-level elections. Meetings with these officials are being conducted to finalize plans for seamless election processes.

Asserting the autonomy of the State Election Commission, Sangreshi emphasized that elections will be conducted in line with constitutional and democratic principles. Public awareness campaigns are being organized to address doubts regarding EVMs and counter misconceptions about hacking. He also revealed that political leaders have been convinced to adopt ballot papers for the ZP and TP polls.