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India Events

ECI hosts ‘International Electors

Visitor Programme’ Virtually

s a part of its
outreach through the
A robust International
Cooperation program, Election
Commission of India (ECI), has
been organizing the International
Election Visitors Programme
(IEVP) where international
election officials and democracies
from across the globe get a first-
hand experience of witnessing
the process of elections live from various corners Jonghyun Choe, Secretary-General, Association of
in India. India has been hosting international World Election Bodies, High Commissioners, and
delegations since 2012 elections. Delegates are Diplomats from Australia, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
invited to visit the Polling stations and watch the Brazil, Fiji, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and
electoral processes in practice for themselves in Switzerland joined in virtually in the event.
person. The one-day session started with a recorded
ECI launched IEVP for the first time during the broadcast from polling stations in the ongoing five
Lok Sabha Election 2014, and the practice has State Assembly Elections of Goa, Manipur, Punjab,
continued. IEVP 2022 showcased the elections in Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The broadcast,
India being Inclusive, Accessible and Participative. in brief, showed the election process - including
IEVP this year was held on March 07, 2022, during elements of mock poll the opening of the poll,
the last phase of General Election to the Legislative Covid mitigation measures taken at polling stations
Assembly of Uttar Pradesh with the aim to present interaction with election officials/Observers and
an overview of the on-going elections to the closing of the polls at select polling stations in these
Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, states. This was followed by a live stream of the
Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh. election from polling stations from the Varanasi
Over 150 delegates from nearly 32 countries District of Uttar Pradesh. Then Umesh Sinha,
across the world including Australia, Bahamas, Former Secretary General, ECI, and Advisor A-WEB
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Croatia, Ethiopia, presented a brief on the highlights of the electoral
Fiji, Georgia, Guinea, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, process in India including the legal framework
Maldives, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, and administrative structure of ECI. He also taked
Philippines, Romania, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, about electoral roll process, facilitation for general
Solomon Islands, South Korea, Suriname, Tanzania as well as service voters, PwD, women and senior
and Uzbekistan and 4 international organizations citizens including assured minimum facilities, special
including International IDEA, International arrangements, ETPBS etc.
Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), Association The then Election Commissioner of India and
of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and Community Chairperson A Web, Sushil Chandra talked about
of Democracies participated in IEVP 2022. Moreover, the efforts taken by ECI to conduct elections in

October 2022 | VoICE International | 59