New Delhi: In anticipation of the upcoming General Elections in 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) orchestrated a crucial conference with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all States and Union Territories. The two-day event, taking place at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi from January 11 to 12, 2024, focuses on sharing insights and experiences gleaned from the recently conducted State Assembly Elections in 2023.
The conference encompasses a range of thematic discussions, including election planning, expenditure monitoring, electoral roll management, IT applications, data management, EVM/VVPAT procedures, SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) strategy, and media and communication strategies.
ECI’s Anup Chandra Pandey emphasized that this conference marks the culmination of a comprehensive preparation process initiated over the past six months. The collaborative platform enables the cross-pollination of ideas, allowing participants to learn from each other’s experiences, address challenges, and share best practices in effective election management.
Arun Goel, another key figure at the Election Commission, highlighted the significance of this conference as a crucial step in team-building before the mammoth task of conducting the General Elections in 2024. Drawing from military terminology, he referred to the CEOs as the Commanding Officers of the 10-million-strong team collectively. Goel encouraged all participants to openly share and discuss their ideas and challenges.
During the conference, CEOs from states that recently underwent elections presented detailed accounts of their experiences, learnings, and innovative practices. Additionally, CEOs from other states provided updates on their preparations across various thematic areas for the upcoming elections. This collaborative effort aims to fortify the electoral process, ensuring a well-organized and transparent General Elections in 2024.