Historic Gathering After 27 Years
The conference, held on February 24, 2026, marked the first national-level dialogue between ECI and SECs in 27 years. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar chaired the event, with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi in attendance. Representatives from 30 state election commissions participated in deliberations focused on harmonizing electoral practices and strengthening democratic institutions.
State Election Commissioners widely lauded the initiative and supported the decision to hold this conference annually, creating a permanent platform for dialogue and coordination.
Adoption of National Declaration 2026
Under the leadership of CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar, the SECs collectively adopted the National Declaration 2026. The declaration reaffirmed the critical role of accurate and updated electoral rolls as the foundation of democracy. It also emphasized the need for transparent and efficient elections to strengthen public trust in democratic institutions.
Strengthening Coordination Across States
The conference outlined plans for ECI and SECs to create mutually acceptable frameworks for sharing election-related resources. This includes the use of ECINET, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), updated electoral rolls, and the training infrastructure at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). Such collaboration aims to synchronize processes across parliamentary, state, and local elections for greater efficiency and consistency.
Additionally, the declaration emphasizes aligning laws governing Panchayat and Municipal elections with those applicable to Parliament and State Legislatures, reinforcing coherence across all levels of governance.
International Engagement and Follow-Up Actions
ECI also invited SECs to participate in its international engagements, promoting knowledge exchange on global electoral best practices. All suggestions received during the conference will be reviewed by a joint team of legal and technical officers led by Deputy Election Commissioners of ECI.
A detailed, State/UT-wise action plan will be submitted to the Commission within three months to facilitate informed decisions in the national interest, ensuring a coordinated approach to electoral reforms across India.
