ECI flags off International Election Visitors’ Programme-2026
The Election Commission of India commenced the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 in New Delhi for the forthcoming general elections to the legislative assemblies of Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The programme was inaugurated at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. In his inaugural address, the CEC highlighted that elections in India are celebrated as festivals of democracy, with the Commission working in a mission mode to ensure their smooth conduct. He also encouraged participants to explore, learn, and experience the country’s diversity during their visit.
In the first phase of the programme, delegates will visit Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on 8–9 April 2026, while the second phase will take them to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu from 20 April 2026 onwards. A total of 43 delegates from 23 countries, including representatives from five foreign missions in Delhi, are participating in the first phase. During the inaugural session at IIIDEM, delegates were given a demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and participated in a mock poll to gain hands-on experience of the voting process. They showed keen interest in India’s technological interventions and administrative safeguards, and also engaged in an interactive session with experts to clarify their queries.
As part of the programme, delegates will travel to the poll-bound regions on 8 April 2026, where they will visit dispatch and distribution centres, district control rooms, and media monitoring centres. They will also witness the actual polling process on the morning of 9 April 2026. The IEVP, a flagship initiative of the Election Commission of India, aims to strengthen international cooperation with Election Management Bodies and organisations across the globe. It offers a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational systems, while showcasing best practices and innovations adopted in conducting elections in the world’s largest democracy.