Malfunctioning of electronic voting machines led to disruptions and protests at some places. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Polling for second and final phase of urban local body elections in Rajasthan on Friday (September 11, 2026) was largely peaceful, with a few incidents of electronic voting machine (EVM)-related glitched, forced entry into the polling booths and clashes between the workers of rival political parties reported from some places.
The malfunctioning of EVMs led to disruptions and protests at some places. Balotra, Jhalawar, Hanumangarh and Khairthal-Tijara were among the districts where the voters turned up in large numbers for the polling for municipal bodies. The voting in these districts was recorded between 88% and 91%.
The second-phase polling was held in the State for six Municipal Corporations, 24 Municipal Councils and 117 municipalities. According to the State Election Commission, an average of 70.01% polling was recorded till the end of the day, with 61.35 lakh of the 87.63 voters turning up to exercise their franchise.
Over 9,750 polling booths were set up for 4,774 wards in the second phase of polling. The first phase of polling was held on September 9 in 162 urban local bodies, with the voter turnout recorded at 76.41%.
An average of 62.88% polling was recorded for 150 wards of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, which is the highest polling percentage so far. The earlier highest voter turnout in the capital city was recorded at 60.34% in 2014.
Among the six Municipal Corporations, Jodhpur recorded the highest 71.10% polling, followed by 70.94% in Pali, 67.26% in Udaipur, 63.65% in Ajmer, 62.88% in Jaipur and 57.02% in Kota.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma cast his vote at Navodaya Teachers’ Training College in Jagatpura area of Jaipur. He said every single vote strengthens the foundation of the city’s development, better facilities and a brighter future.
Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote at a polling station in Jodhpur’s Mahamandir area. Mr. Gehlot said the situation in Rajasthan was “very serious” and claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had not done anything for development of urban areas in the last two-and-a-half years.
Published – September 11, 2026 01:18 pm IST
