ECI to organize International Virtual Election Visitors Programme from today

Election Commission of India is organizing a three-day International Virtual Election Visitors Programme for Foreign Election Management Bodies and Organizations from today, in the context of the ongoing Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections.

In the past, the poll body had organized International Election Visitor Programmes in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, elections for a few State Assemblies in February-March 2017 and Lok Sabha Elections last year.

The Commission said, Bihar has an electorate of over 72 million, one of the largest in the world to vote so far amid the COVID-19 pandemic and it provides an opportunity to share the best practices and experience of the conduct of the poll process during the pandemic period.

Delegates from over 40 countries across the world including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Mauritius, Nepal, Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Zambia along with three international organizations, International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems and Association of World Election Bodies have been invited to participate in the



programme.

Today, an online briefing session will be held which would provide to the participants an overview of the large canvas of Indian electoral process, the new initiatives taken by Election Commission  on voter facilitation, transparency and accessibility of electoral system and ECI’s response to  the changing needs of training and capacity building.

The keynote address at the inaugural session will be delivered by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. The session will also be addressed by Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Sushil Chandra.

Tomorrow, the programme will provide a unique overview of the Commission’s flagship programme for voter awareness - SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation). The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar will share the state’s experiences with the global audience.

On Saturday, the participants are being invited to a virtual tour of polling stations in Bihar. The visit will be amplified by exclusive footage, a walkthrough of the electoral process and various arrangements at the polling station for a free, fair, participative and safe election.