[en] Rotational cross sections and rate coefficients for e-CO and e-HCN collisions have been calculated in the energy range relevant to dark interstellar clouds by using the close-coupling method. Gordon's technique has been used for solving the coupled Schroedinger equations. Initial rotational levels j = 0, 1, and 2 of CO and HCN have been considered. The rotational cross sections have been calculated in the energy range 0.0006 to 0.1 eV and the rate coefficients in the temperature range 5--100 K. The cross sections and rate coefficients thus obtained have been compared with Born and unitarized time-dependent perturbation calculations