Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
India's Election Commission withholds software details used in voter-roll revision
India's Election Commission refused to name the software used in voter-roll checks during its Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
The exercise is a revision of electoral rolls, and the commission has faced criticism over alleged irregularities.
The commission said the software details are exempt from disclosure because they involve commercial confidence, trade secrets and intellectual property.
It also said no new software was developed or procured for the exercise, and that constituency electoral registration officers decide whether to include or exclude voters based on facts and records.
The commission did not provide answers about whether automated tools flag records or what safeguards prevent errors, and cited legal exemptions for some of those questions.
A social activist who sought the information was advised by a former chief election commissioner to appeal to the competent authorities for answers.
India’s Election Commission declined to disclose the name and version of software used to identify voter-roll errors during its Special Intensive Revision.
The commission said the information was exempt under the Right to Information Act because it involved commercial confidence, trade secrets and intellectual property.
It said no new software had been developed or procured for the exercise and that electoral registration officers decide whether to include or exclude voters based on facts and records.
The response followed an information request by social activist MA Mujeeb Ayyub, who also asked about automated flagging, AI use and safeguards against wrongful flags.
- Who
- India’s Election Commission declined to provide the details. The request was filed by social activist MA Mujeeb Ayyub.
- What
- The commission withheld the name and version of software used to identify errors and anomalies in voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision.
- When
- The commission’s reply was dated October 16, 2026.
- Where
- The request was filed by Ayyub, who is based in Karimnagar, Telangana. The exercise concerned voter rolls in India.
- Why
- The commission said the software details involved commercial confidence, trade secrets and intellectual property, and were exempt under the RTI Act.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Election commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded written dissents and objections at least 14 times, according to an investigation cited by Hindustan Times.
The Election Commission issued its response to Ayyub’s RTI application.
Hindustan Times published its report on the commission’s refusal to disclose the software details.
- RTI applicant
- MA Mujeeb Ayyub
- Applicant’s location
- Karimnagar, Telangana
- Reply date
- October 16, 2026
- Software disclosure exemption
- Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act
- Authority for electoral rolls
- Electoral registration officer of the concerned constituency
What people are saying
no new software has been developed or procured for the SIR exercise
This is a legal matter and the applicant must file an appeal to the competent authorities to seek answers to questions ECI is evading