ECI to host International Election Visitors Programme 2020 for Bihar Assembly Elections @COVID-19 pandemic

Conducting the Assembly Elections in Bihar during the COVID-19 pandemic was not a easy task. Bihas an electorate of over 72 million, one of the largest in the world to vote so far amid the COVID19 pandemic. Certainly the event is a major achievement which provides Election Commission Of India with an opportunity to share its best practices and experience of the conduct of our poll process during the pandemic period. 

Thus Election Commission of India is organizing an International Virtual Election Visitors Programme 2020 (IEVP) for foreign Election Management Bodies (EMBs)/Organisations from 05-07 Nov 2020, in the context of the ongoing Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections.  

In the past, ECI has organized International Election Visitor Programmes (IEVPs) for foreign EMBs/Organizations in 2014 Lok Sabha elections; elections for a few State Assemblies in Feb/March 2017 and Lok Sabha Elections in May 2019

Bihar has an electorate of over 72 million, one of the largest in the world to vote so far amid the COVID19 pandemic. This provides us with an opportunity to share our best practices and experience of the conduct of our poll process during the pandemic period. 

Delegates from over 40 countries across the world including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Mauritius, Nepal, Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,  Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Zambia etc. and 3 international organizations (viz. International IDEA,  International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES) and Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) have been invited to participate in the IEVP 2020. 

The Programme for IEVP 2020 comprises an online briefing session on 05 Nov. 2020 which would provide to the participants an overview of the large canvas of Indian electoral process, the new initiatives taken by ECI on voter facilitation, transparency and accessibility of electoral system; and ECI’s response to  the changing needs of training and capacity building. The keynote address at the inaugural session will be delivered by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Sunil Arora. The session shall also be addressed by Election Commissioners Shri Rajiv Kumar and Shri Sushil Chandra.

On the second day, 06 Nov 2020, the Programme will provide a unique overview of the Commission’s flagship programme for voter awareness – SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation). The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar will share the State’s experiences with the global audience.

On 07 Nov 2020, the participants are being invited to a virtual tour of polling stations in Bihar. The visit will be amplified by exclusive footage, a walkthrough of the electoral process, and various arrangements at the polling station for a free, fair, participative and safe election.(Source PIB)