Stockholm, Sweden – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, delivered a compelling keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity, emphasizing India’s unwavering commitment to electoral integrity, its immense scale, and diverse democratic practices. The conference, organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), brought together over 100 participants from approximately 50 countries.

In his address, CEC Kumar reaffirmed the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) pivotal role in capacity building programs for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) globally. He underscored that conducting elections with the “utmost integrity is a testament to our national resolve.”

CEC Kumar provided insights into the colossal scale of India’s electoral exercises, particularly during parliamentary elections. He highlighted the rigorous oversight by political parties, candidates, and a vast network of general, police, and expenditure observers, along with the media, who collectively act as “concurrent auditors” at various stages of the election process. He also detailed the monumental coordination involved, noting that with over 20 million personnel—including polling staff, police forces, observers, and political party agents—the ECI transforms into the “world’s largest organisation” during elections, ensuring nearly one billion electors can freely exercise their franchise.

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Tracing the evolution of Indian elections, Shri Gyanesh Kumar outlined how the system has continually adapted to increasing complexity while remaining firmly rooted in constitutional values. He presented staggering figures: from 173 million electors in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, and an increase from 0.2 million polling stations to over 1.05 million today. The 2024 General Elections alone saw participation from 743 political parties and 20,271 candidates, utilizing 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), showcasing the ECI’s capability to conduct inclusive, efficient, and secure elections.

A key aspect of India’s electoral transparency, as highlighted by CEC Kumar, is the statutory sharing of India’s Electoral Roll with all recognized political parties annually and before elections since 1960. This process, complete with provisions for claims, objections, and appeals, was described as one of the world’s most rigorous and transparent exercises, crucial for maintaining electoral credibility.

Reflecting on the inclusive nature of Indian elections, he emphasized the ECI’s dedication to serving all voters, including first-time voters, senior citizens aged 85 and above, persons with special abilities, third-gender electors, and those in the most remote and inaccessible regions. He reiterated that India’s commitment to “leaving no voter behind” is a constitutional principle, not merely a logistical challenge, citing examples from single-elector polling booths to the highest altitude stations like Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh.

On the sidelines of the conference, Shri Gyanesh Kumar engaged in bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mexico, Indonesia, Mongolia, South Africa, Switzerland, Moldova, Lithuania, Mauritius, Germany, Croatia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. These discussions reportedly focused on critical aspects such as voter participation, electoral technology, diaspora voting, and institutional capacity-building.