Rajasthan re-polling on Sep 16 at booths in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota after EVM glitches
Synopsis
EVM failures that could have changed results in key wards have forced the Rajasthan State Election Commission to order fresh votes at booths across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Suket — with re-polling on 16 September and counting the very next morning, the affected wards remain in limbo until 17 September.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan State Election Commission has ordered re-polling at select booths in Jaipur , Jodhpur , Kota , and Suket after EVM technical malfunctions .
Re-polling is scheduled for 16 September 2025 , from 7 am to 6 pm .
Counting of re-polled votes begins at 8 am on 17 September 2025 .
The Commission acted after confirming that votes affected by EVM glitches exceeded the margin between the closest rival candidates.
Five booths in Jaipur, one in Jodhpur, and three in Kota are affected.
Only voters on the electoral roll of the respective polling station will be permitted to vote; fresh indelible ink will be applied after removing the original mark.
The Rajasthan State Election Commission has ordered re-polling at select booths across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Suket on 16 September 2025, following confirmed technical malfunctions in electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the recently concluded urban local body elections. The Commission determined that the number of votes affected by the EVM failures exceeded the margin between the closest rival candidates at each affected station, making re-polling unavoidable.
Which Booths Are Affected
In Jaipur Municipal Corporation, re-polling has been ordered at five booths: Ward 9, Booth 111; Ward 18, Booth 235; Ward 25, Booth 343; and Ward 34, Booths 477 and 484. In Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, the order covers Ward 50, Booth 338.
For Kota Municipal Corporation, re-polling will take place at Ward 87, Booth 99; Ward 44, Booth 448; and Ward 11, Booth 576. Officials have not specified the exact Suket booth details in the Commission's public order, though the constituency was cited as one of the affected areas.
Why the Commission Acted
The Commission received formal complaints about EVM malfunctions at these polling stations. After reviewing reports submitted by the respective District Election Officers and Returning Officers, the panel concluded that the technical failures had a decisive bearing on outcomes — a threshold the Commission treats as the trigger for re-polling rather than a simple recount. This procedural standard reflects established election law practice in India, where any malfunction that could alter a result mandates a fresh vote.
Voting and Counting Schedule
Re-polling will be conducted on 16 September 2025 from 7 am to 6 pm. Counting of re-polled votes will begin at 8 am on 17 September 2025 at designated locations. The Commission has confirmed that only voters whose names appear on the electoral roll of the concerned polling station will be eligible to participate.
As a safeguard against double voting, fresh indelible ink will be applied after removing the mark placed on the voter's left-hand middle finger during the original poll. The new ink will be applied from the base of the nail to the first joint of the finger.
Logistics and Voter Communication
The Commission has directed that contesting candidates and their election agents be informed in writing about the date, time, and polling station for the re-poll. Voters will be reached through extensive publicity, and notices will be displayed at the concerned municipality, the polling station, and other prominent locations within the Assembly constituency.
All EVMs used during the original poll have been ordered sealed and kept in safe custody. If required, ballot papers and tendered ballot papers will be prepared afresh. Concerned officials have been instructed to complete all necessary logistical arrangements well in advance of the re-poll date.
What Happens Next
With counting set for 17 September, the final outcomes for the affected wards will be determined within 48 hours. The re-polling exercise will be closely watched as a test of EVM reliability in state-level civic elections — an issue that has drawn periodic scrutiny from opposition parties across the country.
Point of View
And it raises legitimate questions about pre-deployment EVM testing protocols at the state level. Opposition parties have long flagged EVM reliability as a concern; a Commission-confirmed malfunction that triggers fresh elections hands those arguments some empirical weight, even if the machines themselves are not alleged to have been tampered with. The rapid turnaround — re-polling Monday, counting Tuesday — suggests the Commission is keen to close the controversy quickly, but the credibility of the exercise will hinge on whether logistical safeguards, particularly the indelible ink protocol, are executed flawlessly.
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 technical malfunctions in EVMs at specific booths caused the number of affected votes to exceed the margin between the closest rival candidates. This threshold legally mandates a fresh vote rather than a recount.
Which areas and booths will see re-polling on 16 September?
Re-polling covers five booths in Jaipur Municipal Corporation (Ward 9 Booth 111, Ward 18 Booth 235, Ward 25 Booth 343, Ward 34 Booths 477 and 484), one booth in Jodhpur Municipal Corporation (Ward 50 Booth 338), and three booths in Kota Municipal Corporation (Ward 87 Booth 99, Ward 44 Booth 448, Ward 11 Booth 576). Suket has also been cited as an affected area.
When will re-polling votes be counted?
Counting of votes cast during the re-poll will begin at 8 am on 17 September 2025 at the designated locations. Final results for the affected wards are expected the same day.
Who is eligible to vote in the re-poll?
Only voters whose names appear on the electoral roll of the respective polling station are eligible. The Commission has also mandated a fresh indelible ink mark after removing the original mark from the voter's left-hand middle finger to prevent double voting.
What happens to the EVMs used in the original poll?
The Commission has ordered that all EVMs used during the original poll be sealed and kept in safe custody following the re-poll. New ballot papers and tendered ballot papers will be prepared afresh if required.
