  Rotational excitation of isotopologues of HCN and HNC by thermal
electron-impact is studied using the molecular {\bf R}-matrix method combined
with the adiabatic-nuclei-rotation (ANR) approximation. Rate coefficients are
obtained for electron temperatures in the range 5$-$6000 K and for transitions
among all levels up to J=8. Hyperfine rates are also derived using the
infinite-order-sudden (IOS) scaling method. It is shown that the dominant
rotational transitions are dipole allowed, that is those for which $\Delta
J=1$. The hyperfine propensity rule $\Delta J=\Delta F$ is found to be stronger
than in the case of He$-$HCN collisions. For dipole allowed transitions,
electron-impact rates are shown to exceed those for excitation of HCN by He
atoms by 6 orders of magnitude. As a result, the present rates should be
included in any detailed population model of isotopologues of HCN and HNC in
sources where the electron fraction is larger than 10$^{-6}$, for example in
interstellar shocks and comets.
