New Delhi prepares to host a major international conference on democracy and election management next year. The Election Commission of India will showcase its ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls at this global gathering.
Global Conference on Democracy
Nearly one hundred delegates from seventy countries will arrive in India's capital for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management. The event runs from January twenty-first to twenty-third in 2026. This conference promises to be the largest global meeting of its kind ever hosted by India on electoral matters.
Showcasing Electoral Initiatives
The Election Commission plans to highlight its recent efforts to strengthen the electoral process. An exhibition will demonstrate the enormous scale and complexity of conducting elections in India. The special intensive revision of electoral rolls will feature prominently in this display.
This revision aims to include all genuine voters while removing ineligible names from the lists. Election officials describe it as a key initiative to enhance the integrity of India's electoral system.
Controversial Roll Revision
The special intensive revision has generated significant debate across the country. Opposition parties claim the exercise inconveniences voters and potentially disenfranchises certain groups. They specifically mention minority communities and weaker sections of society as being disproportionately affected.
Recent data reveals substantial changes to voter lists. Phase two of the revision removed over six and a half crore voters from draft electoral rolls across twelve states and union territories. Earlier, phase one in Bihar eliminated more than sixty-five lakh electors from its rolls.
Conference Leadership and Agenda
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will welcome international delegates alongside Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. They will officially begin proceedings at the inaugural session on January twenty-first.
The conference agenda includes multiple formats for discussion. General and plenary sessions will bring together Election Management Bodies from around the world. Thematic sessions will focus on pressing global electoral issues.
Detailed Deliberations Planned
Thirty-six thematic groups will conduct in-depth discussions during the conference. State and union territory chief electoral officers will lead these groups. National and international academic experts will support their work.
Participants will examine model international electoral standards during the meetings. They will also share innovations and best practices in electoral processes worldwide.
Bilateral Meetings and Digital Launch
The Election Commission plans over forty bilateral meetings with foreign election management bodies. These sessions will foster cooperation on common challenges facing electoral authorities globally.
Conference attendees will witness the formal launch of ECINET during the event. This new digital platform will serve as a one-stop destination for all election-related information and services in India.
Showcasing India's Electoral Process
The first day of the conference will feature a special presentation. The docu-series 'India Decides' will highlight the creation of the world's largest election. This production focuses on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls that involved millions of Indian voters.
International delegates will gain firsthand insight into India's massive democratic exercise through this screening. The Election Commission hopes this sharing of experiences will benefit election management worldwide.
