Differences normal, dissent report shows only part of picture: Poll body amid SIR row

The Election Commission said that "differing views" were a normal part of deliberation after an Indian Express investigation found that two of the three Election Commissioners objected to various aspects of the SIR exercise. In its first statement on the explosive report that indicated critical problems within the poll body, the ECI stressed that it presented "only one part of the picture". The statement, significantly, was signed by all three Election Commission members.

The ECI comprises two Election Commissioners - Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi - with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The report claimed that Sandhu and Joshi formally objected 14 times to various aspects of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls over the past 10 months.

WHAT ELECTION COMMISSION SAID ON DISSENT REPORT?

"Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution. They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken," the ECI statement said.

"Written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks-and-balances are standard, ongoing practices designed to ensure complete transparency, legal compliance and operational rigour," it further said.

The Express report revealed that the two Election Commissioners objected to aspects like new voter registration, deletion and restoration of voters in the rolls, and filing of appeals against orders restoring voters in the SIR process.

The SIR exercise to weed out ineligible voters, which began in June last year, has led to over 13 crore names being deleted from the draft voter rolls in 30 states and Union Territories so far.

In its statement, the ECI underlined that the "suggestions" given by the commissioners were for further improving the electoral processes.

"Any operational queries or inputs raised by Commission members during draft stages are part of standard administrative practice aimed at safeguarding voter rights," it stated.

Critiquing the Express report, the election watchdog underscored that "highlighting specific internal notes" over the period of 10 months gave only one part of the picture.

"Highlighting certain specific internal notes spread over the period of 10 months while overlooking the much larger body of approvals, decisions, instructions and initiatives gives only one part of the picture," the Election Commission said.

In the end, it sought to highlight that all decisions related to the SIR exercise were taken "unanimously".

WHAT ECI SAID ON ROW OVER VOTER SOFTWARE?

A key aspect of the Express investigation was restricted access to ECINet - the software that allows state Electoral Registration Officers to add or delete names and update records.

The revamped ECI software was launched in January this year, bringing all portals under one roof, in a bid to enhance transparency.

However, as the SIR exercise gained pace, the two Election Commissioners flagged that state-level election officials were complaining of restricted access to the portal - the digital system through which electoral rolls are maintained.

Reacting to this, the Election Commission asserted that its digital platforms, such as ECINet, operate under strict data security protocols to prevent unauthorised tampering and manipulation.

"IT security checks and audit controls are standard cybersecurity measures implemented across national databases," it said.

"Statutory authorities, including EROs and District Election Officers (DEOs), function as per statutory powers for registration and deletion under law," the ECI stated. However, it did not explicitly clarify the particular allegation made in the Express investigation.