The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to host a ‘National Round Table Conference’ with State Election Commissioners at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking the first such gathering in 27 years. The primary objective of this meeting is to improve coordination between the ECI and the State Election Commissions (SECs) regarding electoral processes and logistics.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will preside over the conference, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi also in attendance. State Election Commissioners from all states and Union Territories, along with their legal and technical experts, are expected to participate. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all 36 states and Union Territories, including Gujarat, will also be present.
The discussions at the conference will emphasize strengthening cooperation between national and state poll bodies and promoting cooperative federalism in election management. Key agenda items include sharing technological practices, utilizing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and enhancing the accuracy and reliability of electoral rolls.
Senior ECI officials will introduce the digital platform ‘ECINET’ and elaborate on the transparency and security features of EVMs during the deliberations. A comparative analysis of voter eligibility provisions across states and Union Territories under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, is also scheduled to facilitate a structured discussion on the legal framework governing electoral roll preparation and revision.
