Rajasthan civic polls: Re-polling ordered at 10 booths in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Suket
Synopsis
EVM glitches during counting forced Rajasthan's Election Commission to call a fresh vote at 10 booths across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Suket — because the number of votes lost to technical failure exceeded the winning margin. Re-polling is set for Wednesday, with results on Thursday, and the outcomes could flip ward-level contests.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan State Election Commission on 15 September 2026 ordered re-polling at 10 polling stations across Jaipur , Jodhpur , Kota , and Suket .
The trigger was EVM technical malfunctions during counting where unrecorded votes exceeded the margin between leading and runner-up candidates.
Re-polling is scheduled for Wednesday from 7 am to 6 pm ; counting of fresh votes on 17 September from 8 am .
Only voters eligible in the original poll may participate; a fresh indelible ink mark will be applied to the middle finger of the left hand .
All contesting candidates and election agents will be formally notified; public notices will be displayed at municipality offices and polling stations.
Original EVMs will be sealed and kept in safe custody after the re-poll.
The Rajasthan State Election Commission on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, ordered re-polling at 10 polling stations across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Suket after technical malfunctions in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were detected during the counting phase of the state's recent civic body elections. The fresh poll is scheduled for Wednesday between 7 am and 6 pm, with results expected on 17 September from 8 am.
Why Re-Polling Was Ordered
The Commission determined that the number of votes left unrecorded due to EVM technical failures exceeded the victory margin between the leading candidate and the runner-up at each of the affected booths. District Election Officers and Returning Officers submitted detailed reports on the malfunctions, which the Commission examined before concluding that a fresh poll was unavoidable. Officials noted that allowing the original count to stand could alter the outcome of the affected ward contests.
Affected Polling Stations
The 10 polling stations identified for re-polling are spread across four civic bodies. Under the Jaipur Municipal Corporation: Ward 9, Booth 111; Ward 18, Booth 235; Ward 25, Booth 343; and Ward 34, Booths 477 and 484. Under the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation: Ward 50, Booth 338. Under the Kota Municipal Corporation: Ward 87, Booth 99; Ward 44, Booth 448; and Ward 11, Booth 576. The Suket Municipality contributes one station: Ward 4, Booth 5.
Voting Arrangements and Safeguards
Only voters who were authorised to participate in the original poll will be eligible for the re-poll. The Commission has clarified that the indelible ink mark applied during the initial voting will not disqualify any voter; instead, a fresh mark will be applied to the middle finger of the left hand, from the base of the nail to the first joint. Fresh ballot papers and tendered ballot papers will be prepared wherever required alongside the EVM process.
EVMs used in the original polling will be sealed and kept in safe custody following the re-poll, as per Commission directives. All contesting candidates and their election agents will be notified in writing about the revised date, timing, and polling station details.
Public Notice and Logistics
The Commission has directed that public announcements and written notices be displayed at the concerned municipality offices, polling stations, and other prominent locations within each constituency. Election officials have been instructed to complete logistical, security, and administrative preparations ahead of Wednesday's re-poll to ensure smooth conduct in line with prescribed procedures.
What Happens Next
Counting of votes cast during the re-poll is scheduled for Thursday, 17 September, beginning at 8 am at designated counting centres. With the re-poll confined to 10 booths where margins were narrow enough for unrecorded votes to tip the result, the outcomes from these stations could prove decisive in determining the final winners of the concerned ward contests. The episode adds to a continuing national conversation on EVM reliability and the robustness of safeguards around civic-level elections.
Point of View
But the fact that errors were caught only after votes were totalled, not before, points to a gap in real-time monitoring. At 10 booths across four cities, the absolute numbers are small, yet in tight ward contests even a handful of unrecorded votes can change who governs a locality. Civic elections, often treated as second-tier events, carry direct consequences for infrastructure, sanitation, and local budgets — outcomes that matter most to ordinary residents.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has re-polling been ordered in Rajasthan civic polls?
The Rajasthan State Election Commission ordered re-polling because EVM technical malfunctions during the counting process left a number of votes unrecorded that exceeded the margin between the leading and runner-up candidates at 10 polling stations. Since the unrecorded votes could potentially alter the outcome, a fresh poll was deemed necessary.
Which areas are affected by the Rajasthan re-poll order?
Ten polling stations across four civic bodies are affected: five booths under the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (Wards 9, 18, 25, and 34), one under the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation (Ward 50), three under the Kota Municipal Corporation (Wards 87, 44, and 11), and one under the Suket Municipality (Ward 4).
When will the re-polling take place and when will results be declared?
Re-polling is scheduled for Wednesday, 16 September 2026, from 7 am to 6 pm. Counting of fresh votes will be conducted on Thursday, 17 September 2026, starting at 8 am at designated counting centres.
Can all voters participate in the Rajasthan re-poll?
Only voters who were authorised to vote at the affected polling stations in the original poll are eligible for the re-poll. The Commission has clarified that the indelible ink mark from the original vote will not bar participation; a fresh mark will be applied to the middle finger of the left hand.
What happens to the original EVMs after the re-poll?
The EVMs used during the original polling will be sealed and placed in safe custody after the re-poll, as directed by the Rajasthan State Election Commission. Fresh ballot papers will also be prepared wherever required alongside the EVM process.
