Organized by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), the conference is expected to be the largest global conference of its kind on democracy and election management hosted by India. Photo: YouTube/@ECIVoterEducation
About 100 delegates from more than 70 countries will attend the inaugural International Conference on Democracy and Electoral Management (IICDEM) 2026, which will be held in the nation’s capital this week.
Organized by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), a body under the Election Commission of India (ECI), the 3-day conference is expected to be the largest global conference of its kind on democracy and election management hosted by India.
It is held at Bharat Mandapam from 21st January to 23rd January.
Nearly 100 international delegates representing more than 70 countries from around the world are expected to attend, along with representatives of international organizations, foreign missions in India and academic and practical experts in the electoral field, ECI said in a statement.
Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr. By Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi will receive the delegates and sign off the proceedings at the Constituent Session on 21 January 2026.
The three-day program includes general and plenary sessions for Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), in addition to thematic sessions focused on global electoral issues, model international electoral standards and innovations and best practices in electoral processes.
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A total of 36 thematic groups, led by state/UT CEOs and supported by national and international academic experts, will contribute to in-depth reflections during the conference. Leading academic institutions including 4 IITs, 6 IIMs, 12 National Law Universities (NLUs) and IIMCs will participate in these discussions.
40 bilateral negotiations
ECI will hold more than 40 bilateral meetings with EMBs to further discuss and collaborate on the various challenges facing EMBs worldwide. The Commission will also formally launch ECINET, ECI’s one-stop digital platform for all election-related information and services.
There will also be an exhibition showcasing the scale and complexity of conducting elections in India along with the recent initiatives taken by the ECI to strengthen the two pillars of elections – the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections.
The first day of the conference will also feature the India Decides papers highlighting the progress of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the biggest election in the world.
A global platform. A shared purpose. 🌍🤝#IICDEM2026 brings together EMBs from around the world to promote international cooperation, enable the exchange of best practices and co-create solutions that strengthen democratic processes.
🗓️ 21.-23. January 2026
📍 Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi pic.twitter.com/QfeMhqOrMy
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) January 19, 2026
Published – 19 Jan 2026 21:25 IST
