Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Election Commission Responds to Express Investigation on Voter Rolls
The Indian Express investigated how voter lists were being changed.
It reported that two Election Commissioners had concerns about the process.
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly said they were not given enough information.
They also questioned the adding of new voters and the removal of names.
The report said they called some actions unauthorised and illegal.
They warned that voter database access could become centralised in Delhi.
The Election Commission replied that disagreements are normal during decision-making.
It said all Commissioners and officers can give suggestions about improving elections.
The Election Commission of India issued a detailed response to an Indian Express investigation.
The investigation said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi complained about being kept in the dark.
The report said they raised concerns about adding new voters and deleting names.
They described steps involving new voters as “unauthorised and illegal,” according to the report.
The Commission said differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberations before final decisions are made.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India, Indian Express, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- What
- The Election Commission responded to an investigation concerning voter additions, deletions, and access to electoral databases.
- Where
- India, including concerns about database access being centralised in Delhi.
- Why
- The Commission said differing views are part of institutional deliberation, while the investigation raised concerns about transparency and the legality of some voter-list changes.
Indian Express Investigation
Election Commission of India
Transparency in decision-making
Indian Express Investigation
The investigation reported that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi complained about being kept in the dark.
Election Commission of India
The Commission said differing views and observations are normal during deliberations before a final decision.
Changes to voter rolls
Indian Express Investigation
The report said the Commissioners objected to steps involving new voters and deleting names, calling some new-voter measures unauthorised and illegal.
Election Commission of India
The Commission’s response said Commissioners and officers are authorised to offer suggestions for improving the electoral system, but did not specifically address the reported characterisation of the measures.
Control of voter databases
Indian Express Investigation
The Commissioners reportedly warned against centralising voter database access in Delhi because it could bypass state officials.
Election Commission of India
The Commission’s quoted response focused on institutional deliberation and did not directly address the database-centralisation warning.
- Responding institution
- Election Commission of India
- Investigation outlet
- Indian Express
- Commissioners named
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Main concerns
- Being kept in the dark, adding new voters, and deleting names
- Description of new-voter steps
- Reportedly called “unauthorised and illegal” by the two Commissioners
- Database concern
- The report warned that access could be centralised in Delhi
- Commission’s position
- Differing views and suggestions are a normal part of decision-making