Heads of election management bodies from 42 countries join high-level discussions on democratic challenges, innovations and best practices
TFP Bureau, Raipur, January 22, 2026:
The plenary session of the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) – 2026 witnessed wide international participation, with heads of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from 42 countries taking part in deliberations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The session served as a major global platform for dialogue on strengthening democratic institutions and improving election administration across diverse political systems.
The plenary was formally inaugurated by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, in the presence of Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. Around 60 international delegates attended the session, including senior officials heading election management bodies from various countries, as well as ambassadors and high commissioners representing different regions of the world.
The gathering brought together top leadership from EMBs, senior election officials and members of the diplomatic community, enabling an exchange of perspectives on the evolving challenges faced by democracies worldwide. Discussions focused on issues such as maintaining electoral integrity, managing large-scale elections, ensuring voter participation, addressing misinformation, and leveraging technology while safeguarding transparency and trust.
During the session, India shared its thematic priorities for 2026 under its chairmanship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). These priorities highlighted India’s commitment to promoting inclusive, credible and resilient electoral processes at the global level.
Leaders and representatives of election management bodies from participating countries shared insights on innovative practices, institutional reforms and policy measures adopted in their respective jurisdictions. The discussions also underscored the importance of international cooperation, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building to respond effectively to emerging challenges in democracy and election management.
The plenary session of IICDEM 2026 was widely viewed as a significant step in reinforcing global collaboration among election authorities and reaffirming the shared commitment to upholding democratic values through free, fair and transparent electoral processes.
