India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) to be held in New Delhi from January 21 to 23
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
India has assumed the one-year Chairmanship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) for the year 2026. The Chairmanship of the Council will be held by India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing a press conference at his office here today, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer A. Sreenivas informed that a three-day India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM), focused on democracy and election management, is being organized from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The conference will be supported by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
He stated that International IDEA was established in 1995, and India is among its 35 founding countries. The headquarters of the organization is located in Stockholm, Sweden. A. Srinivas said the theme of the conference is “Democracy for an Inclusive, Peaceful, Resilient and Sustainable World,” which aligns with India’s ancient philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—meaning “the world is one family.” The theme reflects India’s vision of inclusivity, resilience, and sustainable development.
He added that the conference will provide an important platform for sharing experiences, co-creation, and fostering collective international leadership in democratic and electoral innovations. During the conference, global challenges faced by Election Management Bodies (EMBs) will be discussed, and deliberations will be held on model standards and best practices in election management. The thematic priorities of the conference will be guided by India’s Chairmanship priorities, structured around two interconnected pillars—reimagining democracy for the future and independent and professional election management bodies for sustainable democracy.
During the three-day conference, heads of Election Management Bodies, election experts, practitioners, and academicians will deliberate on various critical aspects of election management. These include the legal framework, voter registration, political participation, regulation of election campaigns, voting and counting processes, and electoral technology. Emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, misinformation, risk management, sustainability, and democratic inclusion will also be discussed.
The conference will witness participation from more than 40 Election Management Bodies worldwide and representatives from over 30 countries through their missions in India. Around 500 national and international delegates will attend, including heads and senior officials of Election Management Bodies, election experts, and academicians from reputed universities and institutions. Experts from IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, and professionals from the fields of law, technology, management, and communication will also be part of the conference.
A. Sreenivas informed that more than 35 sessions will be organized during the conference. Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories have been assigned responsibilities to lead discussions on various themes, the outcomes and experiences of which will be presented on the international platform. Haryana has been assigned the theme of the balloting process, including Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and postal ballots. On this subject, Haryana officials will undertake a year-long study visit in collaboration with the heads of Election Management Bodies of the Netherlands and Fiji, study their balloting processes, and prepare a detailed report. Haryana’s presentation will be made on January 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM in MR-7 Hall at Bharat Mandapam.
He further stated that as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, Haryana will be represented by the Chief Electoral Officer along with other officials. Additionally, Dr. Nidhi from the Faculty of Management, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak; Dr. Subodh Vishnu Sharma from IIT Delhi; legal experts; and media representatives will also be part of the Haryana delegation.
Responding to a query regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Sh. A. Sreenivas said that preliminary preparations are underway in Haryana in accordance with the directions issued by the Election Commission of India. Orders to complete the exercise may be issued by the Commission during March–April. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are carrying out family-wise mapping, in which 58.18 percent progress has been achieved so far.
He informed that in 2025, the total number of registered voters in Haryana was 2,07,47,275, out of which the mapping of 1,20,70,496 voters has been completed. A total of 20,629 BLOs are actively engaged in door-to-door work for this exercise. In the first phase, training programmes for BLOs of Faridabad, Panchkula, and Gurugram districts will be organized shortly.