A state-conducted survey in Karnataka has found widespread public confidence in electronic voting machines (EVMs), a result that complicates the opposition’s repeated allegations of large-scale electoral fraud. The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice survey, carried out by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority and commissioned through the state Chief Electoral Officer, questioned 5,100 people across 102 Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mysuru.
Karnataka survey trust EVMs: key findings
The survey reported that 83% of respondents expressed faith in EVMs during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Of those, 69.39% agreed that EVMs provide accurate results and a further 14.22% strongly agreed. Separately, 84% of respondents said they believed the polls were free and fair.
Regional breakdowns showed the highest levels of trust in Kalaburagi, where 83.24% agreed and 11.24% strongly agreed that EVMs are reliable. Mysuru followed with 70.67% agreeing and 17.92% strongly agreeing. In Belagavi, 63.90% agreed and 21.43% strongly agreed. Bengaluru recorded a clear majority in favour — 63.67% agreed — although it had the highest share of neutral responses at 15.67% and the lowest level of strong agreement at 9.28%.
The sample covered urban and rural areas across the four regions and was commissioned by the Karnataka government through Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar. The authority responsible for the work is part of the state’s planning and statistics apparatus.
The findings arrive amid sustained criticism from Congress leaders, most notably Rahul Gandhi, who has repeatedly raised concerns about EVM reliability and alleged ‘vote chori’ in recent elections. The survey will be seized upon by political rivals as evidence contradicting those claims.
BJP Karnataka leader of the opposition R. Ashok welcomed the results on social media, saying the survey showed voters trust the electoral system and that repeated claims of manipulation do not reflect public sentiment. The party described the findings as a rebuke to Congress and criticised the state government for choosing to hold local body elections using ballot papers despite the apparent public confidence in EVMs.
Congress ministers, however, questioned the survey’s provenance and methodology. Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge told media outlets that the study had not been sanctioned by the state government and raised concerns about who had conducted it and the size of the dataset. Congress officials have continued to press the Election Commission and other institutions for greater transparency on voting equipment.
Both the BJP and the Election Commission of India have consistently dismissed allegations of widespread EVM tampering. The survey’s publication is likely to intensify the debate over the method of voting for future local polls, with critics of a return to ballot papers warning of potential delays and logistical challenges.
For now, the survey offers a snapshot of voter perceptions in Karnataka: a majority appear to trust electronic voting and the integrity of recent polls, even as political arguments over process and oversight continue.
Key Takeaways:
- Survey of 5,100 respondents across 102 constituencies found 83% overall trust in EVMs.
- Majority across regions said polls were free and fair, with highest trust in Kalaburagi.
- BJP hailed the results as vindication; Congress rejected the survey’s legitimacy.
- Survey reignites debate over ballot papers for local body polls despite public confidence in machines.
