Why the Election Commission of India Refuses to Share Voting Footage

Election Commission Upholds Voter Privacy

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly stated that the privacy and security of voters are paramount. Consequently, any video recordings of the voting process cannot be disclosed to political entities or any requesters unless mandated by a court order, as per ECI sources on Saturday.

This announcement comes in response to recent claims by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who has raised concerns about alleged electoral manipulation and the lack of access to voter lists and election footage.

In a detailed response to Gandhi's allegations, ECI representatives clarified the rationale behind the destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining voter confidentiality by refraining from sharing such recordings.

An insider from the ECI remarked, “The protection of voter privacy is an unwavering principle, and the Commission has consistently upheld this fundamental right, as established by law and reinforced by the Supreme Court.”

The ECI also referenced a Supreme Court statement highlighting the importance of a voter's right to abstain from voting for any candidate while ensuring their anonymity in a democratic framework.

The sources further noted that breaching the confidentiality of voting could lead to a penalty of up to three months in prison, underscoring the ECI's legal obligation to safeguard voter privacy and the secrecy of the electoral process.

“Thus, video recordings from polling stations cannot be released to any individual, candidate, NGO, or third party without the explicit consent of the voters,” a source stated.

Addressing Gandhi's recent complaint regarding the 45-day retention period for CCTV footage instead of a year, an ECI representative explained that the Commission is not required to keep the footage longer than 45 days if the election is uncontested.

The ECI source elaborated, “The footage is retained solely as an internal management resource and is not a legal requirement, aligning with the timeframe set for filing an Election Petition (EP).”

Since no election can be contested beyond 45 days after results are declared, keeping the footage longer could lead to potential misuse by non-contestants, spreading false information and harmful narratives.

If an Election Petition is submitted within the 45-day window, the CCTV footage will be preserved and made available to the appropriate court upon request.