The Election Commission of India (ECI) will organize the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The 3-day event, hosted by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM), will end on January 23. ECI described IICDEM 2026 as the largest global conference on democracy and election management to be held in India.
Nearly 100 international delegates from over 70 countries, along with representatives from international organizations, foreign missions in India, and electoral experts, will participate in the conference. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will inaugurate the event on January 21. The program includes various sessions focusing on global electoral issues, international standards, and innovations in electoral processes.
The conference will feature 36 thematic groups led by CEOs of States/UTs and supported by academic experts for detailed discussions. The ECI plans to conduct over 40 bilateral meetings with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to address challenges. Additionally, ECI will launch ECINET, a digital platform for election-related information and services, during the event.
An exhibition showcasing India’s election processes and recent ECI initiatives will run parallel to the conference. Furthermore, a docuseries titled ‘India Decides’ on the Lok Sabha 2024 elections will be presented on the first day of IICDEM.
