Delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their respective foreign missions in New Delhi, are set to observe polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as part of the Election Commission’s International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026. This marks the second phase of the program; the initial phase took place on April 8 and 9, where 43 delegates from 23 countries experienced the polling process in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar launched the second edition of the IEVP at the Indian International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) on Tuesday. A total of 34 delegates from 17 countries, along with a representative from International IDEA, are participating in this phase. The delegates will visit various facilities in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22 to April 23, 2026, including dispatch and distribution centers, district control rooms, and media monitoring centers. On the morning of April 23, they will observe the polling as it occurs.
During the launch, the delegates received a demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at IIIDEM and participated in a mock poll using these machines to gain hands-on experience of the voting process. They expressed significant interest in the technological innovations and administrative safeguards employed in India’s electoral system. An interactive session enabled experts to address delegates’ questions and clarify any doubts.
The IEVP is a flagship initiative of the Election Commission of India aimed at fostering international cooperation and engagement with electoral management bodies (EMBs) from around the world. The program offers a detailed overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture while familiarizing foreign EMB delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.
