ECI refuses to reveal voter-roll software details, cites trade-secret protection

The Election Commission of India (ECI) rejected a request for details about the application or AI platform employed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing Section 8(1)(d) of the Right to Information Act as the basis for protecting commercial confidence and trade secrets. The activist MA Mujeeb Ayyub, based in Karimnagar, Telangana, asked for the software’s name, version, and whether it uses AI, machine learning, or predictive analytics to flag voter records.

The ECI clarified that no new software was developed or bought for the SIR exercise and that electoral registration officers (EROs) in each constituency are the statutory authorities responsible for deciding voter inclusion or exclusion. Questions about automatic flagging and safeguards were ruled as “clarifications” not covered by the Act, while information about who reviews flagged anomalies was protected under Section 8(1)(g) for safety reasons.

Former chief election commissioner OP Rawat advised the activist to appeal the decision. The refusal comes amid broader scrutiny of the SIR process, which has removed 130 million names from voter lists and faced criticism from reports alleging internal dissent within the commission.