Two Indian Election Commissioners Claim Unauthorized Changes to Voter Rolls and IT Systems

In a recent interview, former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa highlighted complaints from current commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi that the Election Commission of India acted without their consent. The grievances include an unauthorized amendment to Form 6, which governs new voter declarations, and the concentration of control over the ERONET electoral-roll software at the commission’s headquarters.

A specific case in Goa demonstrated that even when a local Electoral Registration Officer identified eligible voters, the system blocked their inclusion. Lavasa described these actions as “absolutely improper” and urged a thorough, independent investigation, suggesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process be scrapped. He also criticized the ECI’s refusal to release meeting minutes related to the SIR decision, calling for full transparency.