US Edition‘Politically Motivated’: EC Cites ‘Breach of Privacy’ in Response to Rahul Gandhi's Poll Footage Request
- On June 21, 2025, the Election Commission of India denied Rahul Gandhi's request to make public the surveillance videos recorded after 5 pm at polling stations in Maharashtra.
- The refusal followed concerns that releasing such footage violates voter privacy, security, and constitutional secrecy upheld by laws from 1950, 1951, and Supreme Court rulings.
- The EC explained that CCTV recordings serve as internal management tools, retained only for 45 days to allow election petitions before mandated destruction to prevent misuse and intimidation.
- Rahul Gandhi alleged election rigging via a five-step process, including turnout inflation, calling the EC compromised, while the EC called these claims 'absurd' and warned such demands risk undermining democratic integrity.
- The EC's stance implies that protecting voter confidentiality outweighs transparency demands, and that releasing footage could expose electors to pressure and legal contradictions.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Cameras, courts and confidentiality: Inside Election Commission's 45-day rule
The Election Commission has ruled out releasing polling station footage publicly, citing voter privacy as paramount. Such footage is only accessible under court orders to protect the secrecy of voting.
Election Commission Stands Firm Against CCTV Footage Disclosure Amid Privacy Concerns
The Election Commission resists demands to release CCTV footage of polling stations, citing voter privacy and security. EC officials argue that sharing footage could expose voters to intimidation and discrimination, emphasizing legal obligations to protect voters’ secrecy in line with the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
"Contrary To Voter Privacy": Poll Body Sources On Voting Footage Demands
Countering demands that footage from poll booths be retained for more than 45 days, the Election Commission sources have said that while they seem reasonable on the face of it, they will adversely impact the privacy and security of voters.
‘Politically motivated’: EC cites ‘breach of privacy’ in response to Rahul Gandhi's poll footage request
EC sources say that calls for releasing footage may be politically motivated, aiming to harass or profile voters, especially in booths where a party performs poorly. Officials said that what is veiled as a logical demand is actually ‘entirely contrary’ to the voters' privacy and security concerns.
The Election Commission has refused to share the webcasting and CCTV footage of the polling booth, citing privacy and law. The Commission says that releasing the CCTV footage will increase discrimination among people, create pressure and create an atmosphere of fear. Doing so will also violate the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
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Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Right
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