Phase 1 Sees 12.6% Turnout in Early Hours Amid Strict Security & EVM Glitches

Voting for the high-stakes first phase of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Elections 2026 commenced on Thursday morning across rural hinterlands under robust administrative security arrangements. Covering 16 Zilla Parishad and 104 Panchayat Samiti constituencies, the electoral exercise began promptly at 7:00 AM and is scheduled to continue until 6:00 PM. According to official voter turnout metrics issued by the Rajasthan State Election Commission, the state logged an aggregate voter participation rate of 12.6% within the initial three hours of polling ending at 10:00 AM. Out of a total registered electorate comprising over 8.50 million rural citizens, precisely 1,071,773 voters had exercised their franchise during the morning window, setting the tone for a crucial battle for grassroots local self-governance.Turnout Trends: Bikaner Leads the Tally While Rajsamand and Udaipur Register Slow StartVoter participation across the state demonstrated noticeable regional variations during the morning voting hours:Bikaner's High Momentum: Runiya Panchayat Samiti situated in Bikaner district emerged as the frontrunner across the state, recording an impressive peak voter turnout of 18.8% by 10:00 AM.Sluggish Morning Footfall: In contrast, Bhindar Panchayat Samiti in Udaipur district alongside Kumbhalgarh Panchayat Samiti in Rajsamand recorded the lowest engagement, with turnout hovering at just 5.7%.High-Profile Participation: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa was among the early voters who arrived at their designated polling stations to cast their ballots, urging rural communities to step forward and exercise their democratic franchise.EVM Glitch Resolved in Alwar: Quick Technical Response Restores PollingThe voting process remained largely smooth across the state, barring an isolated equipment disruption in western Rajasthan:Technical Snag at Alwar Booths: Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions were reported early in the morning at polling booth numbers 76 and 77 in ward number 11, falling under Dagdaga Gram Panchayat of Raini Panchayat Samiti in Alwar district.Expedited Restoration: Election sector officers and technical engineers were deployed immediately to inspect and replace the faulty machine units, resuming official polling within an hour to clear the queues of waiting voters.Multi-Tier Security Vigil: 100-Meter Perimeters and Strict Mobile Bans EnforcedExtensive security measures have been put in place across all sensitive and hyper-sensitive rural polling stations:Strict Perimeter Control: Speaking on ground preparedness, Rajasthan Police Service (RPS) officer Neeraj confirmed that heavy additional forces have been mobilized to maintain public order, with strict enforcement of zero-tolerance zones within the 100-meter and 200-meter security perimeters of polling booths.Vehicle and Digital Restrictions: Authorities have prohibited unauthorized vehicular movement near voting centers, allowing only vehicles with valid official clearance stickers to approach; carrying mobile phones or electronic gadgets inside voting compartments is strictly banned.Smooth Polling Environment: Rapid action squads and sector magistrates continue to carry out regular mobile patrols, ensuring that voting across all centers proceeds peacefully without disruption.