NEW DELHI, September 27: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a formal review of its ECINet electoral-roll management system amid scrutiny over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists and questions surrounding the use and administration of the poll body’s digital systems.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the full Election Commission on September 26, attended by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The Commission also announced changes intended to simplify the verification process for voters receiving SIR notices.
Election Commission Sets Up Committee to Review ECINet
The Election Commission has decided to establish a committee to examine whether ECINet complies with applicable election laws and rules.
According to the Commission’s announcement, the panel will be headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and will include an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT.
The committee will examine the functioning of the platform and submit its findings to the Election Commission.
What Is ECINet?
ECINet is the Election Commission’s digital platform used for several electoral-roll and voter-related functions.
It brings together services used by election officials and citizens, including voter registration, electoral-roll searches, submission of documents and processing of information connected with the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
The Commission has said that election officials receive role-based access to the system according to their statutory responsibilities.
Review Comes Amid Scrutiny Over SIR Process
The review follows increased scrutiny of the technology being used during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Recent reports have raised questions about the functioning of the Commission’s backend systems, including how voters are matched with older electoral records and how cases described as “logical discrepancies” are identified.
Hindustan Times reported that approximately 17.6 million voters across Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi had received notices under the logical-discrepancy category during the latest phase of SIR.
The Election Commission has maintained that decisions relating to the SIR exercise were approved unanimously by the Commission.
EC Eases Rules for Voters Receiving SIR Notices
Alongside the ECINet review, the Election Commission announced changes to the way notices will be handled during the SIR.
Voters receiving notices for being “unmapped” or for logical discrepancies will ordinarily no longer have to visit the office of an Electoral Registration Officer or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer in person.
Instead, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit voters’ homes, collect the required documents and upload them to ECINet for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer.
Hearings to Be Held Only in Exceptional Cases
The Election Commission said personal hearings would generally be required only in exceptional circumstances.
Where a hearing is necessary, authorities have been directed to conduct it preferably online. The Commission also said facilities for online hearings should be strengthened.
An adult member of a voter’s family may also be authorised to participate in the hearing on the elector’s behalf if required.
Delhi and Maharashtra Deadlines Extended
The Election Commission has also extended deadlines relating to claims and objections in Delhi and Maharashtra, giving voters additional time to seek corrections or raise concerns regarding the electoral rolls.
The changes form part of a broader effort by the poll body to make the SIR verification process more accessible to voters.
EC Rejects Claims of Policy-Level Internal Split
The developments come amid reports about disagreements within the Election Commission over aspects of its electoral-roll and IT systems.
The Commission has stated that the SIR order and rollout decisions had the unanimous approval of all three Election Commissioners.
It also said that a communication sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the Commission and was not related to a policy matter concerning the IT division.
Reports concerning internal objections have nevertheless contributed to wider public and political scrutiny of the Commission’s digital systems and voter-list revision procedures.
Supreme Court Has Also Examined SIR Procedures
The SIR exercise has separately come under judicial scrutiny.
On September 22, the Supreme Court raised concerns about the manner in which some notices had been issued during the Delhi SIR and suggested that voters should be able to respond through easier digital methods such as email or messaging services.
The Election Commission has continued to defend the legality of the revision exercise while introducing procedural changes aimed at reducing the burden on voters.
EC Says Future Digital Decisions Will Face Further Checks
According to reports published on September 27, the Election Commission has also indicated that future decisions involving new digital initiatives will undergo additional discussions and checks within the Commission.
The ECINet review is therefore expected to focus not only on the platform’s technical functioning but also on whether its processes remain consistent with India’s electoral laws and established administrative procedures.
The committee’s findings could become important as the Election Commission continues the Special Intensive Revision across multiple states and Union Territories.
Source – Election Commission of India / The Indian Express / India Today / Hindustan Times
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