India Election Commission Orders Review of Voter-Roll Software

India’s Election Commission has ordered a review of its voter-roll software. Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Office/ Wikimedia commons.

NEW DELHI – India’s Election Commission has ordered a review of its voter-roll software following a newspaper report that raised questions about changes made to electoral records.

The Election Commission said on Saturday that its software would be reviewed after the report, which alleged that the system had been used to remove or modify large numbers of voter records.

The commission’s decision comes amid continuing public and political attention on India’s voter-registration system.

The review is intended to examine the software and the process through which changes to voter records are made. The Election Commission has not said that the allegations in the newspaper report have been established as fact.

The development is significant because electoral rolls are central to the administration of elections in India. Changes to voter records can involve additions, deletions, corrections and transfers between constituencies.

The commission’s review could provide further information about how the software processes such changes and whether additional safeguards are required.

The issue comes at a time when election authorities are under scrutiny over the management of voter lists and election technology.

The Election Commission remains responsible for maintaining electoral rolls and conducting elections under India’s constitutional framework.

Further details from the review are expected to clarify the allegations and the functioning of the software.

Source: Reuters.