ECI flags off Phase-II of International Election Visitors Programme-2026.

New Delhi/Kolkata; April 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) have commenced the second phase of International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP), 2026 for the ongoing General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in New Delhi yesterday (21st April 2026).

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the programme today at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). 34 delegates from 17 countries including representatives from their Foreign Missions in Delhi and a representative of International IDEA will be participating in the second phase of the programme. The participants will visit Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22 to April 23, 2026.

In the first phase, the delegates of the Programme visited Assam, Kerala and Puducherry from April 8 to April 9, 2026. The delegates were given demonstration of the EVM at IIIDEM today and they took part in the mock poll using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to get a hands on experience of the voting process.

The delegates evinced keen interest in the technological interventions and administrative safeguards in the election process in India. The delegates had an interactive session with the experts clarifying their doubts/queries.

The delegates will be travelling to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on April 22, 2026. They will visit the dispatch and distribution centres and other facilities including the District Control Rooms and the Media Monitoring Centres. They will also witness the actual polling in the morning of April 23, 2026.

The IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of other countries and International Organisations. The IEVP provides a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, while familiarising foreign EMB delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.

The IEVP showcases the strengths of India’s electoral system to the international community and sharing the best practices adopted in the world’s largest democracy for conduct of elections.

Team Maverick.