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4h ago

ECI Refuses to Name SIR Software, Cites Trade‑Secret Exemptions

ECI's RTI denial raises transparency concerns over software used to clean voter rolls, prompting calls for appeals and political action.

An enumerator uploads documents of an applicant registering for the Draft Electoral Roll 2026 as part of the ECI's SIR.
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Overview

  • The Election Commission declined an RTI request for the name and version of the software used in the Special Intensive Revision, invoking Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act for commercial confidence and trade secrets.
  • The commission said no new software was developed or procured for SIR and reiterated that Electoral Registration Officers have statutory authority to decide on adding or removing electors.
  • The RTI was filed by activist MA Mujeeb Ayyub seeking whether automated tools, AI or machine‑learning were used to flag or delete records and what safeguards existed against wrongful removals.
  • Political opponents, led by the Congress, accused the ECI of hiding an ECINET platform and demanded the Chief Election Commissioner resign and SIR be suspended, while former officials urged legal appeals.
  • Previous reporting has documented internal written dissents by two election commissioners and alleged restrictions on officials' access to ECI systems, and separate coverage has linked SIR to large‑scale deletions from rolls.