ECI to Strengthen Electoral Coordination with States at National Round Table
The conference will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Conference at Bharat Mandapam on February 24 to focus on technology sharing, EVM safeguards and electoral roll harmonisation
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India will organise a National Round Table Conference of the Commission and State Election Commissioners on February 24 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking the first such gathering in 27 years. The previous conference was held in 1999.
The conference will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. State Election Commissioners from all states and Union Territories will participate, accompanied by their legal and technical experts. Chief Electoral Officers of all 36 States and Union Territories are also expected to attend.
The primary objective of the round table is to strengthen coordination and foster synergies between the Election Commission of India and State Election Commissions in managing electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal mandates. The deliberations aim to encourage constructive exchange of ideas and reinforce cooperative federalism in electoral management.
Discussions during the day-long conference will centre on the sharing of technology, Electronic Voting Machines, and electoral rolls, along with measures to strengthen electoral processes. Senior officials of the Commission will make presentations on key technological and operational initiatives, including the recently launched ECINET digital platform, highlighting its potential to streamline electoral services.
Presentations will also underline the robustness, transparency and safeguards built into Electronic Voting Machines. A comparative overview of State and Union Territory-wise eligibility of electors under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 will be presented to facilitate informed discussions on legal frameworks governing electoral roll preparation across jurisdictions.
State Election Commissions are constituted under state laws in accordance with the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. They are vested with the superintendence, direction and control of preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections to panchayats and municipal bodies under Articles 243K and 243ZA of the Constitution.
