New Delhi: Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from around the world on Friday agreed to strengthen global collaboration on protecting electoral integrity, responsibly adopting technology and enhancing professional capacity, with the unanimous adoption of the Delhi Declaration 2026 at the close of the three-day International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026.
The declaration was adopted during the valedictory session at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, committing participating EMBs to collective action across five core areas: Purity of Electoral Rolls, Conduct of Elections, Research and Publications, Use of Technology, and Training and Capacity Building.
Announcing the adoption of the declaration, Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, said the conference had laid a strong foundation for sustained international cooperation in election management.
“This conference has sparked meaningful dialogue on model international electoral standards,” Kumar said, noting that more than 40 bilateral meetings held over three days had broadened cooperation and deepened understanding of shared priorities among EMBs.
The closing session was attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, heads of 42 Election Management Bodies, experts from over 70 national institutions, senior officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and 36 Chief Electoral Officers from States and Union Territories.
Under the Delhi Declaration 2026, EMBs also agreed to periodically review progress and reconvene on December 3, 4 and 5, 2026, at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
The declaration sets out a range of collaborative initiatives, including the creation of a co-curated Encyclopaedia of Democracies of the World, preparation of comprehensive reports on seven themes led by International IDEA and 36 themes led by IIIDEM, co-development of digital platforms on the lines of ECINET, and expanded training and exchange programmes through IIIDEM to enhance transparency, professionalism and effective electoral roll management.
Addressing the gathering, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu emphasised the collaborative spirit that defined the conference.
“The openness, mutual respect and eagerness to learn from one another reflect the maturity and professionalism of the global electoral community,” he said.
Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi highlighted India’s approach to election technology, particularly the launch of ECINET during the conference.
“ECINET is a testament to India’s technological advancement in election management,” Joshi said. “It reflects our belief in the calibrated use of technology — where technology reinforces trust rather than replacing it.”
Described as the first and largest conference of its kind, IICDEM 2026 opened with a grand inaugural session attended by nearly 1,000 participants, including international delegates from 42 EMBs and Heads of Mission from 27 countries. The EMB Leaders’ Plenary brought together heads of delegations and ambassadors for high-level discussions on democracy and election management.
On the second day, the Election Commission of India unveiled ECINET, a one-stop digital platform offering election-related information and services.
Across the three days, 36 thematic groups—led by Chief Electoral Officers from States and Union Territories and supported by leading national and international academic institutions—held detailed deliberations on global electoral challenges, best practices, innovations and evolving international standards.
