The Election Commission of India (ECI) has welcomed the largest-ever global delegation to witness India’s General Elections, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and high electoral standards.
Seventy-five delegates representing 23 countries are participating in the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP), inaugurated today in New Delhi in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized the significant role of India’s electoral practices in the global democratic landscape, describing it as a contributor to what he termed “democratic surpluses.” He highlighted the unique nature of Indian elections, where neither registration nor voting is compulsory, underscoring the persuasive approach adopted by the ECI to encourage citizen participation.
Kumar outlined the scale of the electoral exercise, noting the vast electorate of 970 million people, over 15 million polling personnel, and more than 1 million polling stations across the country. He invited the delegates to witness the diversity of India’s electorate firsthand, describing the elections as a festival of democracy.
The Commission also held bilateral interactions with the Chief Election Commissioners of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal, along with their delegations, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in electoral practices.
Delegates were briefed on various aspects of the Indian General Elections 2024, including electronic voting machines (EVMs), voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs), IT initiatives, and the role of media and social media in the electoral process.
The delegation will split into groups to visit six states—Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh—to observe polls and related preparedness in various constituencies. The program will conclude on May 9th, 2024, aiming to familiarize foreign delegates with India’s electoral system and best practices.
This year’s delegation includes representatives from Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and organizations from countries such as Bhutan, Mongolia, Australia, Madagascar, Fiji, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Moldova, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cambodia, Nepal, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chile, Uzbekistan, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Namibia are taking part in the event. Members from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and media teams from Bhutan and Israel are also participating.
