NEW DELHI: Amidst opposition hullabaloo over alleged widespread irregularities in the voter list, the Election Commission offered a clarification that all of its proceedings are transparent.

Election Commission:

Each stage of the preparation of the voter list is being passed with the cooperation of political parties.

Allegations are being made only after the elections. Legitimate concerns will be addressed.

Electoral registration officers finalise the voter list with the help of booth-level officers. The draft list is being published in digital and physical formats. These are also being shared with political parties. The commission also makes its website available to ensure transparency.

According to EC:

After the publication of the draft list, voters and political parties have a month to point out any errors

After the release of the final voter list, the first appeal should be made to the District Magistrate and the second to the Chief Electoral Officer

Some political parties and booth agents do not check the draft list. Thus, the opportunity to point out errors is lost

After missing the opportunity, they are now raising one by one. However, the intervention to clean the database is welcome.

The Commission will respond on Sunday to the allegations of 'vote theft' raised by Rahul Gandhi. A press conference is arranged at the National Media Centre in Delhi at 3 pm. This is the first press conference after Gyanesh Kumar took charge as the Chief Election Commissioner. He is also likely to respond to the allegations raised by the opposition against the voter list update process in Bihar.