Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated a five-day workshop on “Risk Management and Electoral Resilience” at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). The workshop, running from May 25 to 29, is a collaborative effort between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and International IDEA under India’s Chairship Programme 2026. CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, addressed the participants during the opening session.
The workshop aims to enhance institutional preparedness and resilience in electoral processes. It seeks to assist Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) in establishing structured electoral risk management frameworks, policies, and operational systems. Participants include Election Commissioners and senior officials from 12 countries, electoral managers, risk management and technology professionals, as well as officials involved in crisis management and electoral integrity initiatives.
The discussions at the workshop emphasized the importance of proactively identifying, assessing, and managing electoral risks to ensure electoral integrity, continuity, legitimacy, and public trust. In a progressively complex risk environment, the need for safeguarding electoral processes was highlighted. The thematic areas covered during the workshop include foundations of electoral risk management, electoral integrity, risk assessment, crisis management, inter-agency coordination, and strategic planning.
The workshop features practical demonstrations and exercises utilizing the Electoral Risk Management Tool (ERMTool). These activities involve customizing risk factor libraries, Risk and Action Registers (RAR), analytical tools, and resource portals. Additionally, the program includes field exposure visits and institutional interactions to gain insights into on-ground electoral planning, coordination mechanisms, and effective risk mitigation strategies.
