New Delhi, July 17: The Election Commission of India (ECI) organized its inaugural All-India Media Conference 2026 in the capital on Wednesday. Over 380 media professionals from various states and union territories gathered to discuss the theme “Connecting Stakeholders, Strengthening Democracy: The Role of Media in Elections.”
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the conference, stating that elections in India are conducted in accordance with the Constitution, electoral laws, and the directives issued by the ECI over time. He emphasized that the entire electoral process is audited concurrently by stakeholders involved in Indian elections.
Kumar noted that India’s voter list, comprising nearly 950 million citizens, is a dynamic document that evolves over time. He highlighted the legal safeguards embedded in the voter list preparation process, mentioning that over 1.2 million Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and more than 1.5 million Booth Level Agents (BLAs) actively participate as “concurrent auditors” in this process.
He further remarked that the record voter turnout in recent assembly elections is a testament to the faith of Indian voters in the electoral system and the vibrancy of Indian democracy. Kumar also expressed gratitude to all voters for participating in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The conference aimed to enhance understanding of various aspects of electoral processes and ensure maximum transparency in the conduct of elections with the involvement of key stakeholders, including political parties and candidates. The event commenced with an overview of transparency measures enshrined in the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and 1951, and directives issued by the ECI. It also covered the role of technology in elections and important constitutional provisions related to media laws during elections.
Participants were informed about the roles and responsibilities of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), polling agents, and counting agents, emphasizing their role in ensuring transparency as concurrent auditors in elections, facilitating political party participation, and strengthening the electoral process. As part of the program, participants also demonstrated the preparation of the voter list, the voting process, and the counting process in group sessions.
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