ECI Refuses to Disclose Software Details Used for Voter List Revision

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declined to disclose details of the software used to identify errors and irregularities in electoral rolls. The issue came to light after social activist M. A. Mujeeb Ayyub from Karimnagar, Telangana, filed a Right to Information (RTI) application on July 27. He sought details about the software’s name, version and algorithm, as well as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. In its response, the ECI stated that no new software had been developed specifically for SIR, but it did not reveal details of the software currently in use.

The Commission reportedly cited commercial confidentiality and intellectual property concerns, invoking Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act to justify withholding the information. Ayyub alleged that the response avoided key questions and raised concerns about transparency in the voter list revision process. He also criticised the ECI’s statement that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) make decisions on adding or deleting voter names based on facts and records. Former Chief Election Commissioner O. P. Rawat advised that anyone seeking further details could appeal to the relevant authorities. The issue has drawn attention amid continuing criticism over the deletion of voter names during the SIR exercise.