Story perspectives

Election Commissioners Object to ECINet Access Limits in July

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 5:22 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Overturned Order Restores Oversight

In July 2026, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected to a change limiting state officials’ access to the ECINet voter-roll system.
The July 28 work-allocation order by Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg was overturned, restoring previous IT-division oversight.
They said the IT restrictions violated the Representation of the People Act’s decentralised roll provisions.
The commissioners logged least 14 objections and wrote to Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan about the order.

Left

Audit-Free Centralization Risk

Two Election Commissioners of India formally objected in July 2026 to a change that limited state officials’ access to the ECINet voter-roll system.
Their warning said the restriction could disenfranchise voters and undermine transparent roll maintenance.
They said limits stopped Goa officials from reinstating 97 voters after a Supreme Court order.
The commissioners warned that centralising ECINet without audit could let actors alter rolls, threatening integrity.

1 of 2

Overturned Order Restores Oversight

In July 2026, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected to a change limiting state officials’ access to the ECINet voter-roll system.
The July 28 work-allocation order by Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg was overturned, restoring previous IT-division oversight.
They said the IT restrictions violated the Representation of the People Act’s decentralised roll provisions.
The commissioners logged least 14 objections and wrote to Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan about the order.

1 / 2