2026 TN Elections: Madras High Court Rejects Plea For SMS-Based Vote Confirmation, Says Can't Interfere After Poll Process Has Begun

The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan noted that the election process had already begun and at this point, the court could not issue any such directions to the Election Commission of India. The court remarked that the suggestion could be considered in the next elections.

“It is for the EC to decide. Now since the election process has begun, they can't change the procedure now. They'll be free to consider your representation and act on it if they want from the next election. Do you know what the law is? Once the election process begins, they can't change the procedure. Let it be considered in the next elections. You have ample time,” the court orally remarked.

The petitioner, KR Kukesh, president of the Tamil Nadu ISAIVELLALAR Youth Federation and Welfare Trust, submitted that casting a vote is one of the most important rights of a citizen and every single vote holds immense value in a democracy.

The petitioner submitted that through a vote confirmation SMS, an instance confirmation message would be sent to the voter's registered mobile number immediately after casting the vote, and such a system would significantly decrease illegal and fraudulent voting and enhance transparency in the electoral process.

The petitioner submitted that the SMS confirmation system was being used for providing various services like ration purchases, LPG cylinder bookings, and banking transactions. The petitioner thus submitted that the same service could be used for providing SMS confirmation during the assembly elections also.

When the matter was taken up on Friday, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that after the Special Intensive Revision process, the ECI had the details of the voters including their phone numbers. The counsel thus argued that the ECI could use the details available to it to implement the system.

The court, however, remarked that the ECI could not change the election process after notifying the same. The court was also not inclined to issue directions to the ECI at this stage of the election. The court added that the suggestions could be considered by the ECI for the next elections

Thus, the court dismissed the plea.

Case Title: KR Kukesh BA v The Election Commission of India

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 157

Case No: WP 13764 of 2026