ECI, State Election Commissioners Resolve to Strengthen Coordination Mechanism
The conference, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, saw participation from State Election Commissions of 30 states.
National Declaration 2026 adopted; focus on electoral roll purity, legal harmonisation and technology sharing
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SECs) have resolved to strengthen coordination mechanisms in the national and constitutional interest following the National Round Table Conference held at Bharat Mandapam here on Tuesday.
The conference, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, saw participation from State Election Commissions of 30 states.
The meeting marked the first such round table in 27 years. ECI and the SECs agreed to institutionalise the engagement as an annual exercise.
Under the leadership of the Chief Election Commissioner, all SECs adopted the National Declaration 2026, affirming that preparation of pure electoral rolls is the bedrock of democracy and that transparent and efficient conduct of elections strengthens democratic institutions.
ECI proposed developing mutually acceptable mechanisms and legally viable frameworks with SECs to synergise election-related processes across the country. These include sharing of ECINET, electronic voting machines (EVMs), electoral rolls and training infrastructure at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management.
The declaration further emphasised harmonising laws governing elections to panchayats and municipal bodies with those applicable to Parliament and state legislatures. Both ECI and SECs committed to strengthening cooperation to safeguard national and constitutional interests.
ECI also invited SECs to participate in its international engagements.
All suggestions received during the conference will be examined by a joint team of legal and technical officers led by the concerned deputy election commissioners. A state- and Union territory-wise roadmap will be submitted to the Commission within three months for further decision-making.
