ECI

In a decisive move to safeguard voter privacy and uphold electoral integrity, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised its rules concerning access to polling station video footage. As per the new directive, such recordings—captured via CCTV, webcast, or videography—will no longer be accessible to the public or political entities and can only be reviewed by a High Court during an election petition proceeding.

As opposition voices grow louder over election transparency, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly defended its decision to retain polling station CCTV footage for no more than 45 days. The move, while criticized by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as an attempt to "destroy evidence," is justified by the ECI on legal and ethical grounds—chiefly, to protect voter privacy and uphold the sanctity of secret ballots.