The Election Commission of India marked the 16th National Voters’ Day with the theme “My India, My Vote — Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy.” Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised India as the world’s largest and most transparent democracy. President Droupadi Murmu highlighted voting as a symbol of citizens’ trust in the democratic process.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar emphasized India’s role as the birthplace of democracy and its status as the largest and most transparent democratic system globally. He mentioned India’s leadership in the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) as a testament to global confidence in its electoral processes. India also spearheaded the adoption of the Delhi Declaration 2026 at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM-2026).
The CEC pointed out that the India International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) is becoming a prominent global training center for election management. He also noted the international interest in the ECINET technology platform. Stressing the importance of a reliable voters’ list and active citizen engagement, CEC Gyanesh Kumar underlined these as the pillars of India’s robust democracy.
During the event, President Murmu handed Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to five newly enrolled voters, a gesture hailed by Election Commissioner S.S. Sandhu as a source of pride and motivation for the electoral community. Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi emphasized that the EPIC symbolizes responsibility and highlighted that the fate of the world’s largest democracy lies in the hands of its voters.
The celebration included the release of two publications: “2025: A Year of Initiatives and Innovations” and “Chunav Ka Parv, Bihar Ka Garv,” documenting the Bihar Assembly elections. A video showcasing the ECI’s global leadership in electoral management and democratic development was screened. An exhibition displaying various election aspects, recent ECI initiatives, and the successful Bihar Legislative Assembly elections in 2025 was also organized.
Across the country, simultaneous events took place at state and district levels through the offices of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Election Officers (DEOs). Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducted activities at polling stations, recognizing new voters and distributing EPICs to fresh electors.
