Election Commission to Host National Roundtable on Strengthening Electoral Processes

New Delhi, February 22: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a national roundtable conference on Tuesday at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This event marks the first such gathering in 27 years.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will preside over the roundtable, which will also feature Election Commissioners Dr. Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. State Election Commissioners from all states and Union Territories, along with their legal and technical experts, will participate in the conference. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all 36 states and Union Territories are also expected to attend.

According to a statement from the Election Commission, the primary aim of this roundtable is to enhance coordination between the ECI and State Election Commissions (SECs) within their respective legal frameworks regarding electoral processes and systems.

The statement further noted that the discussions will provide a platform for the exchange of creative ideas and will strengthen the spirit of cooperative federalism in electoral management.

Throughout the day-long conference, topics such as strengthening electoral processes, technology, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and sharing voter lists will be discussed.

Senior officials from the Commission will present on the recently launched ECI-NET digital platform and its transformative potential in streamlining electoral services. These presentations will also cover the robustness, transparency, and security measures related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The Election Commission stated, “A comparative presentation on voter eligibility under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, will also be made in accordance with the states/Union Territories to facilitate informative discussions on the legal frameworks governing voter list preparation across different jurisdictions.”

State Election Commissions are established under provisions granting authority through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. Under Articles 243K and 243ZA, the responsibility for preparing voter lists and conducting elections for all Panchayati Raj institutions and urban bodies is entrusted to the State Election Commissioners.

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S.K.