New Delhi | January 8, 2026

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, New Delhi. The three-day event will bring together election authorities and experts from across the globe to discuss contemporary challenges, innovations, and best practices in election management.

Organized by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI, the conference is expected to feature participation from representatives of 42 election management bodies and more than 90 international delegates, including officials from countries such as the United States and Bhutan.

The ECI said the conference will serve as a platform for dialogue on pressing electoral issues worldwide, including voter registration, electoral roll integrity, misinformation, campaign regulation, and technology-enabled election processes. Discussions on voter roll revision exercises, including Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mechanisms, will be a central theme.

India’s Global Role in Electoral Governance

The conference coincides with India’s assumption of the chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026, reinforcing its role in shaping global electoral discourse. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumararticulated the theme of the event as “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world”, emphasizing the importance of democratic institutions in addressing contemporary societal challenges.

IIIDEM Director General Rakesh Verma highlighted that the conference will provide an opportunity for international cooperation among election management bodies, enabling the exchange of best practices and innovations. Over 40 bilateral meetings are scheduled between the Chief Election Commissioner, election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and heads of participating authorities.

Ahead of the event, IIIDEM unveiled the official logo for the 2026 edition, which depicts stylized human forms arranged as protective hands around a globe. India is placed at the center, symbolizing its role as the host nation and its engagement in global election management discussions.

Conference Structure and Sessions

The programme will include general and plenary sessions, working group meetings, and the launch of ECINet, the ECI’s integrated digital platform. Thematic discussions will revolve around two pillars: reimagining democracy for the futureand the role of professional and independent election management bodies in sustaining democratic systems.

Participants will engage in sessions covering seven global electoral themes, 11 model international electoral standards, and 25 sessions on best practices and innovations. The discussions will be led by chief electoral officers from Indian states and Union Territories along with national and international academics.

The model international electoral standards to be examined include:

• Laws governing electoral democracies
• Legal frameworks and independence of election management bodies
• Voter registration and voter roll management
• Political parties and candidate regulations
• Campaign finance and expenditure
• Balloting systems, including electronic voting machines and postal ballots
• Counting and tabulation of results
• Election observers and election technology
• Role of media and voter education

Best practice sessions will focus on issues such as the eligibility of electors, access to voter registers, identification at polling stations, grievance redressal mechanisms, polling day operations, robust counting processes, and enforcement of the model code of conduct.

Additional discussions will cover technology-driven voter registration, integrated digital platforms, tackling misinformation during elections, regulation of media campaigns, and the role of democracy in promoting diversity, marginalization, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development goals.

Showcasing India’s Electoral Expertise

The conference will also provide international delegates with an opportunity to learn about India’s electoral framework, administrative processes, and technological systems. According to ECI officials, the participating election authorities collectively represent a substantial proportion of the global electorate.

Academic participation will include representatives from four Indian Institutes of Technology, six Indian Institutes of Management, 12 National Law Universities, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, and 20 national and international academic experts. Thirty-six thematic groups, led by state and Union Territory chief electoral officers, will contribute to the deliberations.

Institutionalizing International Collaboration

The ECI said the conference aims to institutionalize regular international engagement on election management and establish IIIDEM as a hub for global dialogue on electoral processes. By fostering collaboration, the conference seeks to address contemporary electoral challenges while strengthening democratic governance worldwide.

The inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management is thus poised to serve as a landmark event, positioning India as a global leader in promoting transparent, inclusive, and technology-enabled democratic processes.