DELHI: In a landmark initiative aimed at fostering international cooperation and promoting democratic practices, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has welcomed the largest-ever delegation, comprising representatives from 23 countries, to witness the Indian general elections first-hand.
The International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) kicked off in New Delhi on Sunday with 75 delegates from countries, namely Bhutan, Mongolia, Australia, Madagascar, Fiji, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Moldova, Tunisia, the Seychelles, Cambodia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chile, Uzbekistan, the Maldives, Papua New Guinea, and Namibia, in attendance.
The event, inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, underscores India’s commitment to transparency and adherence to high electoral standards.
Addressing the delegates, CEC Rajiv Kumar remarked that the contribution of the Indian electoral space and the work done by the ECI hold a significant portion of the world democratic space. In terms of the process and capacity it generates, what can be legitimately called ‘democratic surpluses’ is of huge significance in the otherwise growing concerns of the shrinkage or decline of democratic spaces worldwide.
Kumar emphasized the unique characteristics of India’s electoral system, where electoral registration is voluntary and voting is not mandatory. He stressed the importance of the Election Commission’s persuasive efforts to encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process. The credibility of these efforts, he noted, is evident in the high voter turnout and the comprehensive coverage of electoral rolls.
He said, “It would be axiomatic to say that the credibility of the processes that we undertake is validated through the sheer turnout at elections and the near saturation of electoral rolls in terms of elector-population ratio.”
On the scale of the electoral exercise in India, he said that a 970 million-strong electorate will be welcomed by over 15 million polling personnel at over one million polling stations spread across the country. Kumar invited the visiting delegates to witness firsthand the diversity and vibrancy of India’s democracy, describing it as a “festival of democracy.”
On the sidelines of the event, the ECI held bilateral interactions with the chief election commissioners of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal, along with their delegation.
Earlier in the day, the delegates were briefed on various aspects of the 2024 Indian general elections, including EVM-VVPAT, IT initiatives, and the role of media and social media.
The delegates 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 programme will end on May 9, 2024.
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