New Delhi: The Delhi Declaration of Election Management Bodies (EMB) of 13 countries and international organisations on Friday vowed to adopt technological integration and innovation to make the electioneering process more efficient and effective.
"We will vigorously resist all fake narratives that may be created to undermine the electoral process, and the conduct of elections as prescribed under our respective laws and not allow these narratives to overwhelm our duties in any manner," the resolution adopted after the conclusion of the 'Global Election Year 2024: Reiteration of Democratic Spaces; Key Takeaways for EMBs' stated.
The conference was hosted by the Election Commission of India based on the varied experiences of EMBs in conducting elections in 2024, in India and the other countries. Nearly 30 representatives from the EMBs of 13 countries including Bhutan, Georgia, Namibia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Ireland, Mauritius, Philippines, Russian Federation, Tunisia, and Nepal attended the conference.
The two-day-long conference has also resolved to constitute a working group of all willing EMBs worldwide to deal with issues of social media, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The working group will meet on a regular basis, both virtually or physically, to take stock of the evolving challenges and collectively take up critical issues with big tech entities and other stakeholders, as may be required.
“We will remain ever committed to transparent, credible and inclusive polls and to election integrity and shall ensure the conduct of elections in the most non-partisan, unbiased and truthful manner and with utmost correctness," the resolution stated.
The participants have also reiterated that they will never succumb to anything undue pressure or influence that could derail constitutional and statutory duties and the law of the land.
"We will steadfastly guard the integrity and purity of the list of electors while making sure that no eligible citizen is disenfranchised," the resolution stated.
The participants also vouched to keep focus on the centrality of the voters and their rights in the election space and do everything to facilitate them in the electoral process.
“We will take up proactive interventions of voter education and electoral participation for increased registration and turnout of voters. We will engage in a determined fight to keep the election process free, fair, and transparent. The robust judicial mechanisms must be put in place to deal with post-election grievances,” the resolution stated.
