ECI Agrees to Provide Readable Soft Copies of Final Electoral Rolls to Political Parties

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has agreed to provide political parties with soft copies of the final electoral rolls in a readable format. Several political parties had previously requested access to voter lists in a format that would allow them to read, review and analyse the information more easily. The latest decision marks a significant development in their efforts to obtain electoral rolls in an accessible digital format. Readable copies could help political parties examine voter data and carry out their electoral preparations more efficiently.

The Congress party had also approached the Supreme Court in 2018, seeking soft copies of electoral rolls in a readable format. At the time, the Election Commission opposed the request. The ECI's latest agreement represents a change in its position on providing the final electoral rolls in this format. The decision is expected to make it easier for political parties to access and examine voter lists. Further details regarding the specific digital format and the procedure for distributing the electoral rolls remain to be clarified.