Bengaluru: With the state govt planning to hold elections to zilla panchayats (ZPs) and taluk panchayats (TPs) across Karnataka in January 2027, the State Election Commission (SEC) has directed all deputy commissioners (DCs) to initiate the process of appointing returning officers and assistant returning officers.According to directions issued by the SEC on Saturday, assistant commissioners or officers in equivalent rank will be appointed ROs for ZP constituencies, while tahsildars or officers in the same rank will handle TP constituencies.The DCs have been asked to convene preliminary meetings and arrange election-related training for the appointed officers. They must also submit the list of ROs and AROs to the SEC by Nov 16 for approval.In its communication, the commission asked DCs to identify suitable officers and appoint them ROs and AROs in accordance with Rule 6 of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 1993.For ZP elections, an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner or equivalent must be appointed RO for each taluk. In taluks with more than 10 ZP constituencies, two ROs may be appointed. Tahsildar-level officers or those of equivalent rank, excluding the concerned taluk Tahsildar, should be appointed as AROs.For TP elections, one tahsildar or an officer of equivalent rank must be appointed as RO for every 15 constituencies. A deputy tahsildar or an officer of equivalent rank should be appointed as ARO.The SEC has also stressed the need for proper coordination between ROs and AROs and instructed DCs to assign election duties based on the number of constituencies. Officials selected for election duty, apart from ROs and AROs, should also have prior experience in conducting elections.The DCs have been directed to organise training for all election officials and staff covering every stage of the electoral process, from the commencement of election preparations to its completion.The commission has instructed DCs not to change officials assigned election duties without its prior approval. Any changes, if required, must be made only after obtaining the SEC’s consent.The lists of ROs and AROs will be notified after the commission approves the proposals submitted by the DCs.Recently, RDPR minister Eshwar B Khandre indicated the SEC might publish the election schedule by mid-December for Jan polls.According to sources, the SEC has completed an audit of ballot boxes available across the state and found that boxes valued at more than Rs 80 crore were in good condition for reuse. However, the state govt recently released Rs 125 crore to the commission to procure additional ballot boxes and other materials required to conduct the elections using ballot papers.
