Can't share machine-readable voters list: CEC Gyanesh Kumar cites SC order

The Election Commission maintains that machine-readable voter lists cannot be shared with political parties due to privacy concerns and the risk of misuse. This stance relies on a 2019 Supreme Court judgment which distinguished between searchable text modes and editable digital formats, ruling that citizens do not have a right to the latter. The decision highlights the tension between transparency demands and data security in electoral processes. By prioritizing the protection of voter privacy over easy data analysis, the Commission limits how political parties can audit the electoral rolls for potential inaccuracies. This is highly relevant to open data advocates because it establishes a precedent where specific public records are withheld in formats suitable for computational verification. It underscores the challenge of balancing the right to access information with the imperative to safeguard individual privacy in democratic institutions.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Published on 2025-08-18

Can't share machine-readable voters list: CEC Gyanesh Kumar cites SC order

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