Election Commission of India dismisses claims of removing e-voter rolls from its website, calls it 'fake news'.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has dismissed claims of removing e-voter rolls from its website, calling it "fake news." ECI stated that anyone can download the electoral roll for any state through a link on its website. The claims came after Rahul Gandhi's press conference, where he alleged vote theft in Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has categorically dismissed claims of removing e-voter rolls from its website, labeling the allegations as "fake news." In response to the recent press conference by Rahul Gandhi, who alleged vote theft in Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ECI has clarified that anyone can download the electoral roll for any state through a link on its official website.

The ECI's statement comes amidst ongoing political tensions surrounding the electoral process. Rahul Gandhi had previously accused the ECI of colluding with the BJP in the Karnataka elections, claiming that voter lists contained incorrect and duplicate entries. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) had written to Gandhi, asking him to submit a formal sworn declaration supporting his allegations, along with the names of electors allegedly wrongfully included in the rolls. Gandhi refused to provide a fresh affidavit, insisting that his public statements should be taken as sworn truth [2].

The ECI has maintained that electoral rolls are compiled transparently under the Representation of the People Act and are shared with party agents. The commission has also criticized Gandhi for failing to respond to a previous letter inviting him to substantiate his claims of rigging in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

In a separate development, the ECI has received a significant number of claims and objections regarding the draft electoral rolls in Bihar. Despite the political row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the ECI has asserted that no eligible elector will be left out and no ineligible elector will be included in the final electoral roll. The commission has received 5,015 claims and objections directly from the electors with respect to the draft roll till today [1].

The ECI has also urged voters to submit new photographs to their Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by September 1, 2025, as part of a drive to ensure accurate and updated voter identity cards. According to data from the revision exercise in Bihar, around 35 lakh electors have either migrated permanently or could not be traced at their registered addresses.

The current developments underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The ECI's actions to dispel misinformation and ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls are crucial for maintaining public trust in the democratic system.

References:
[1] https://www.business-standard.com/politics/no-party-raised-claim-or-objection-to-draft-electoral-rolls-in-bihar-ec-125080700510_1.html
[2] https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ec-dares-rahul-gandhi-sign-affidavit-or-apologise-to-the-nation-on-vote-chori-claims/3940480/