Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Maharashtra Poll Chief Seeks ECINET Changes, More ERO Discretion
Maharashtra is checking its voter list during a special review.
The state’s election chief asked for changes to the computer system used in this work.
He said local election officers should have more freedom to decide how to handle possible mistakes.
A logical discrepancy means that voter details do not match older records, such as a parent’s name or age.
This mismatch alone does not prove that someone is not allowed to vote.
The state also asked officers to accept suitable alternative documents and skip hearings when the evidence is good.
The Election Commission said Booth Level Officers will usually collect documents from voters’ homes and upload them.
Hearings will generally happen only in exceptional cases.
The Commission also ordered a review of ECINET and extended several deadlines.
Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam asked the Election Commission to modify ECINET so Electoral Registration Officers can exercise more statutory discretion.
The proposed changes cover hearings, equivalent documents, discrepancy decisions, optional uploads and clearer written instructions for officers.
The Election Commission said voters receiving logical-discrepancy notices would ordinarily avoid personal hearings, with Booth Level Officers collecting and uploading documents.
Maharashtra’s August 31 draft roll did not include about 2.07 crore electors, or 21.1 percent; the Election Commission said these were not final deletions.
Claims and objections are due October 12, notice disposal is due November 10, and the final electoral roll is scheduled for November 16.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam, Electoral Registration Officers, Booth Level Officers and the Election Commission of India are involved.
- What
- Chockalingam sought changes to ECINET to give local officers greater discretion in handling logical-discrepancy notices during the Special Intensive Revision.
- When
- The request was sent on September 24; related Commission decisions were announced on September 26. Claims and objections are due October 12, notice disposal November 10, and the final roll November 16.
- Where
- The process concerns Maharashtra’s electoral rolls, with the request sent to the Election Commission in New Delhi.
- Why
- The requested changes were intended to let officers assess evidence, accept equivalent documents, avoid unnecessary hearings and exercise responsibilities assigned to them by election law.
Greater local discretion
Centralized controls and safeguards
Authority over discrepancies
Greater local discretion
Chockalingam and Maharashtra Congress representatives argued that EROs should be able to decide voter discrepancies and eligibility cases because election law assigns them responsibility for the electoral roll.
Centralized controls and safeguards
The Election Commission said its digital platforms operate under strict data-security protocols and maintained that EROs and District Election Officers function under their statutory powers.
Hearings and documents
Greater local discretion
The Maharashtra CEO sought an option to exempt voters with satisfactory documents from personal hearings and to allow equivalent documents, particularly for vulnerable, tribal, homeless and sex-worker communities.
Centralized controls and safeguards
The Commission’s revised process keeps hearings for exceptional circumstances decided by the ERO, preferably online, while generally having Booth Level Officers collect and upload documents.
Political and administrative oversight
Greater local discretion
The Maharashtra Congress alleged that ECINET diluted ERO powers and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of taking unilateral decisions; opposition parties also raised concerns about decisions on the SIR being made without all commissioners’ knowledge.
Centralized controls and safeguards
The Commission announced portal upgrades, a committee review of ECINET and procedures for reviewing new IT modules, while saying further field-level flexibility would be provided if needed.
- State involved
- Maharashtra
- Requesting official
- Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam
- Software
- ECINET
- Draft-roll date
- August 31
- Electors not included in draft
- About 2.07 crore, or 21.1 percent of Maharashtra’s electors
- Claims and objections deadline
- October 12
- Final electoral roll
- Due November 16
- ECINET review
- A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT
