Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 22: In a significant move aimed at reinforcing India’s democratic framework, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will host a nationwide roundtable conference on Tuesday to review and enhance the country’s electoral systems. The high-level gathering seeks to deepen coordination between the Commission and State Election Commissioners (SECs), promoting stronger institutional alignment across jurisdictions.
Scheduled to take place at Bharat Mandapam, the day-long deliberations will focus on expanding the use of technology, ensuring the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), strengthening the management of Electoral Rolls, and preparing for emerging and unforeseen challenges in election administration.
The conference, being organized after nearly 30 years—the previous such meeting was held in 1999—comes at a crucial juncture. It precedes upcoming Assembly elections and unfolds amid political debate surrounding revisions of electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
According to an official statement, the central aim of the roundtable is to build greater synergy between the ECI and SECs within their respective legal mandates, particularly in areas concerning electoral processes and logistical coordination. The forum is also intended to encourage constructive dialogue and reaffirm the principles of cooperative federalism in election management.
The session will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. State Election Commissioners from across all states and Union Territories, accompanied by their advisory teams, will participate. Additionally, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) representing all 36 states and Union Territories are expected to be present.
Senior ECI officials will deliver detailed presentations on key technological and operational initiatives, including the recently introduced ECINET digital platform and its potential to modernize and streamline electoral services nationwide.
The discussions will also cover the technical safeguards and resilience of EVMs, along with measures implemented to enhance transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. A comparative overview examining voter eligibility criteria across states and Union Territories—under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950—is also scheduled, enabling informed dialogue on the legal frameworks governing Electoral Roll preparation throughout the country.