UP MLC Polls: EC Cites ‘Software Error’ Behind Unusual Names In Electoral Rolls, Orders Probe

Last Updated:October 23, 2026, 11:33 IST

A software error translated names instead of transliterating them in UP MLC electoral rolls. As many as 158 unusual entries were flagged and a probe was ordered.

Preparations underway for UP MLC Polls (Video screengrab/PTI)

A software error that translated voters’ names instead of converting them from English to Hindi has led to bizarre entries in the electoral rolls for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, including phrases such as ‘Ram ne Yadav ko maara’ and ‘Ram ne Sharma ko maara’.

The discrepancies surfaced ahead of polling for 11 MLC seats, prompting Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa to order an inquiry into the errors.

Rinwa acknowledged the anomalies on Thursday, saying that 158 entries among the 14.81 lakh names listed across the electoral rolls for the 11 constituencies contained details that appeared “unusual”.

He said several discrepancies were linked to the software used to prepare electoral rolls digitally.

The errors were reported in the Allahabad-Jhansi graduates’ constituency. Apart from the unusual names, an entry showing ‘B.Com’ in place of a voter’s father’s name was also flagged.

How A Software Error Produced Bizarre Names

Explaining the issue, Rinwa said the software was designed to transliterate names entered in English into Hindi. However, in some cases, the system translated the words instead of converting them phonetically, resulting in incorrect entries in the final electoral rolls.

For instance, if a name such as ‘Ramhit Yadav’ was mistakenly entered as ‘Ram hit Yadav’, the software could translate it into Hindi as ‘Ram ne Yadav ko maara’, meaning ‘Ram beat Yadav’.

The error occurred because the software interpreted the separated words as a sentence rather than as parts of a person’s name.

Rinwa said the errors could have been corrected using the editing option available in the software, but some remained in the final list.

However, he indicated that the entry showing ‘B.Com’ as a father’s name appeared to be a case of human error or negligence rather than a software translation issue.

First Digital Preparation Of Electoral Rolls In UP

The discrepancies have brought attention to the digital system introduced for preparing electoral rolls for graduate and teachers’ constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.

For the first time in the state, the process was carried out digitally, replacing the earlier system of manual preparation at the district level.

The platform was developed by the election office’s IT team in approximately four months. It was designed to handle multiple stages of the electoral roll process, including voter registration, application processing, approval and rejection, duplicate checks, serialisation and downloading of electoral rolls.

The software was intended to streamline the preparation and management of voter lists. However, the translation-related errors meant that some incorrect entries made their way into the final rolls.

Rinwa said the 158 unusual entries constituted a very small proportion of the total electorate of 14.81 lakh voters across the 11 constituencies.

Inquiry Confirms Electoral Roll Errors

The discrepancies came to light after political parties raised complaints and lists highlighting various errors circulated on social media platforms.

Following the complaints, Rinwa ordered an inquiry into the cases. The probe, conducted by Jhansi Divisional Commissioner Vimal Kumar Dubey, confirmed that errors were present in the electoral roll.

The issue emerged ahead of polling for five graduate and six teachers’ constituencies in the state.

Officials Told To Ensure Eligible Voters Can Cast Ballots

Amid the controversy, Rinwa directed district authorities to ensure that no eligible voter is denied the right to vote because of clerical or printing errors in the electoral rolls.

Presiding officers were instructed to verify the necessary documents and allow eligible voters to cast their ballots. District magistrates will be held responsible if any eligible voter is turned away for such reasons.

Polling for the 11 MLC seats is being held from 8 am to 4 pm on Friday. More than 14.81 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots at 2,697 polling stations spread across 72 districts. A total of 152 candidates are in the fray.

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What caused the software errors in the Uttar Pradesh MLC election electoral rolls?

A software error translated voters’ names instead of converting them phonetically from English to Hindi, interpreting separated words as sentences and resulting in bizarre entries like ‘Ram ne Yadav ko maara’ and ‘Ram ne Sharma ko maara’.

Which constituency reported unusual entries and software translation errors in the voter lists?

The discrepancies and unusual translation errors were reported in the Allahabad-Jhansi graduates’ constituency ahead of polling for 11 MLC seats.

What directives were given by Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa regarding eligible voters?

Navdeep Rinwa directed district authorities to ensure that no eligible voter is denied the right to vote due to clerical or printing errors, instructing presiding officers to verify documents and allow them to cast ballots.

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About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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