New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Rajiv Kumar on Thursday said that the elections in the coming years will be re-shaped and re-structured through advancement in technology, social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, while simultaneously addressing the challenges that are likely to come along.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day international conference of election management bodies (EMBs) of 13 countries and international organizations in New Delhi, Kumar said that 2024 was a defining year that tested the ability of election management bodies to uphold democratic values in the face of challenges and complexities.
He emphasized the critical role of technology and digital innovations in enhancing efficiency, transparency and voter confidence. "While technology offers significant opportunities, it also brings challenges like cybersecurity threats and misinformation," he said.
Kumar urged the poll management bodies to streamline strategies for addressing these technological challenges to effectively mitigate the risks.
The conference themed ‘Global Election Year 2024: Reiteration of Democratic Spaces, Takeaway for EMBs’ is being hosted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) based on the varied experiences of EMBs in conducting elections in 2024, in India and other countries. Nearly 30 representatives from EMBs of 13 countries including Bhutan, Georgia, Namibia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Ireland, Mauritius, Philippines, Russian Federation, Tunisia, and Nepal, along with international organisations have graced the conference for discussion on key issues of contemporary election management.
Sounding a note of caution against fake narratives which erode trust in electoral processes, Kumar said that such fake narratives are typically timed at crucial junctures of the election process to target its very vitals.
Kumar also outlined key trends shaping the future of elections, including AI-driven processes, online and remote voting, biometric authentication and increased global collaboration and called on all participants to explore the opportunities with technological advancements in making elections more transparent, inclusive and accessible.
He further acknowledged the role of EMBs in not only safeguarding electoral processes globally but also expanding their reach and impact.
Highlighting India’s historic general elections with a record participation of 647 million voters in over one million polling stations, CEC Kumar said that the elections were more inclusive with greater participation especially among women, elderly aged 85+, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and the third gender.
What CECs Of Bhutan, Mauritius & Indonesia Said
Speaking in the session on 'Role of technology in elections management - Opportunities and challenges', Dasho Sonam Topgay, CEC of Bhutan hailed India for providing EVMs and lauded the poll process efficiencies brought in by EVMs since their use in the election in Bhutan. He said that EVMs have won the trust of people in Bhutan.
Election Management Bodies from Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Indonesia, Kazakhstan which made presentations on their electoral experience in 2024, highlighted their concerns regarding disinformation, misinformation and fake narratives on social media affecting electoral integrity in live elections.
CEC of Mauritius Abdool Rahman also stressed on the menace of fake news to undermine the electorate’s trust in the EMBs. Highlighting a particular case of fake online applications for recruitment of election staff, Rahman expressed concern on misuse of technology and social media in intensifying the menace of misinformation and disinformation during elections.
Commissioner of General Election Commission of Indonesia, Idhan Holik spoke about their experience of using a dedicated WhatsApp channel to tackle misinformation in real time.
The first day of the conference featured multiple sessions including the role of technology in election management, social media platforms and their impact on election management, promoting electoral equity for inclusive and accessible elections, and the importance of capacity building, training, and international cooperation.
On the second day on Friday, the event will discuss the ‘Future of Elections’ for the democracies and culminate in an ‘Outcome Document/ Declaration’ to imprint the shared commitment for better synergy and strengthening of elections and electoral democracies.
