Legislative Assembly Elections in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam have drawn global attention, as 38 international delegates from 22 countries witnessed firsthand, the scale, precision, and vibrancy of India’s electoral process, as part of Election Commission of India’s International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026.
Describing the experience as “a true festival of democracy,” delegates expressed admiration for the record voter participation, meticulous planning, & seamless execution of polls by the ECI. “Indian Voting, this is a true festival of democracy for the whole world what is overwhelming for me is enthusiasm of people to vote. We can only learn from this process, it’s a huge process and done right” Mr. Branimir Farkas, Croatia
The international delegates began their two-day visit (April 8-9) to Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry by visiting the dispatch and distribution centers, where they observed the systematic movement of polling parties along with election materials through well-planned logistics & established SOPs.
Delegates also interacted with Chief Electoral Officers and State Police Nodal Officers of the respective states on the overall conduct of elections, as well as security arrangements. They also visited the CCTV control rooms set up for monitoring the 100% webcasting of Polling stations at the CEO offices, describing them as a “strong pillar of transparency”.
“The process of election in India is certainly a place to learn” Mr. Uuc-Kib Espadas Ancona, Mexico
On the poll day morning, delegates observed mock polls. Thereafter, delegates from these 22 countries seperately visited polling stations in Assam (Kamrup Metro and Kamrup Rural), Kerala (Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram), and Puducherry to witness the actual polling process.
They expressed their appreciation for the inclusive, participative, and accessible features at the polling stations including ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers, and crèche facilities as well as dedicated polling stations managed by women and persons with disabilities (PwDs).
