The Election Commission of India (ECI) convened a National Round Table Conference with State Election Commissioners on Tuesday at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking the first such meeting in 27 years. The last conference of this kind was held in 1999.
Conference Details
The meeting is chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi also present. All State Election Commissioners, their legal and technical teams, and Chief Electoral Officers from 36 states and Union Territories, including Gujarat, are participating.
Key Agenda and Discussions
The conference aims to enhance coordination between the ECI and state poll bodies and reinforce cooperative federalism in election management. Key topics include:
- Exchange of technological practices and innovations
- Transparency, security, and use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
- Accuracy and robustness of electoral rolls
- Comparative review of voter eligibility provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Presentation on the recently launched digital platform ECINET
The discussions are expected to strengthen legal, administrative, and technological cooperation between the national and state election bodies, providing a structured platform for institutional dialogue. The conference also highlights the role of State Election Commissions, constituted under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (Articles 243K and 243ZA), in conducting elections for panchayats and municipalities.