Overview
- An evaluation published by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority reports that 83.61% of respondents trust EVMs and 84.55% believe elections are free and fair.
- The study was commissioned under the SVEEP framework through Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar, surveyed 5,100 people across 102 Assembly constituencies, and was dated August 2025 before being made public this week.
- Division-wise, trust was highest in Kalaburagi and strong agreement was lowest in Bengaluru, which also registered the most neutral responses on EVM reliability.
- The BJP cites the findings to counter Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ claims and criticises Karnataka’s move toward ballot papers for local body polls, calling the results a rebuke to Congress.
- Congress leaders question the survey’s sanctioning, sample strength, and neutrality of the NGO involved in fieldwork, while the report also flags concerns on inducements, with 44.90% seeing money power rising and 16.33% reporting attempts to influence votes.