The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together election authorities from across the world to deliberate on contemporary electoral challenges and innovations.
Organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI, the three-day conference will see participation from representatives of 42 election management bodies. More than 90 international delegates have confirmed their attendance, including officials from countries such as the United States and Bhutan.
According to the ECI, the conference aims to institutionalise regular international engagement on election management and create a platform for sharing best practices. Key discussions will focus on voter registration, electoral roll integrity, Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises, campaign regulation, misinformation, and the increasing use of technology in elections.
The event coincides with India assuming the chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026. The overarching theme of the conference, articulated by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.”
The programme will feature inaugural and plenary sessions, leaders’ meetings of election management bodies, thematic working groups, and over 40 bilateral meetings between India’s election commissioners and their international counterparts. A major highlight will be the launch of ECINet, the ECI’s integrated digital platform.
Thematic discussions will cover global electoral standards, including legal frameworks, independence of election bodies, campaign finance, voting systems, result counting, election technology, and the role of media and voter education. Special sessions will also address misinformation, digital voter registration, and inclusive democratic practices.
Academic participation will include experts from IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, and international institutions. The ECI said the conference will position IIIDEM as a global hub for dialogue on electoral processes and strengthen cooperation among election authorities worldwide.
