ECI

In this Issue, we share global perspectives on 'Strategies for Bridging the Gaps in Voter Participation.' There are interesting articles, stories and experiences from Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Kazakhastan, Myanmar, Nepal, Ukraine, International IDEA, IFES, etc. Some of the topics touched upon, include enhanced electoral participation through accessibility initiatives, and the experience of compulsory voting towards the same objective. The issue also reproduces a ‘Question and Answer Session” on Gender Equality in Elections with Ms Viktoriia Hlushchenko, the Central Election Commissioner of Ukraine.

This issue also reports on various important events in India in connection with the National Voters' Day celebration. On that occasion, we instituted an Annual Lecture Series to celebrate the seminal contribution of' the architect of the Indian Electoral System, Mr Sukumar Sen. Mr. Sen, as first Chief Election Commissioner of India, led the Commission in the conduct of the first two General Elections in India in 1952 and 1957. He was also Chairman of the International Electoral Commission in Sudan for the first Parliamentary Elections in 1953.
 
 
 

“Voter Education for Informed & Ethical Voting” is important for health of democracy and as such requires investment in empowering voters through information, awareness and motivation for participation besides enabling a voter to appreciate significance and relevance of ethical voting.

In this issue, we bring to you a bouquet of articles on the theme ‘Voter Education through Educational Institutions’. This theme primarily focuses on introducing greater electoral awareness and sensitivity for future generations of voters and electoral participants, an issue that has great significance and relevance for investment in the future of Electoral Democracy.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Holding Elections During COVID-19

The Conference aims at coming up with a resolution emerging from the experience of all participants on how to strengthen Inclusive, Informed and Ethical electoral participation.
Contents
PART I -  Election Commission of India and Voter Education
PART II - Concept Paper
PART III - Agenda
PART IV - Thematic Sessions and related Best Practices
PART V - Delegates from Election Management Bodies
PART VI - Experts

This issue of Voice international brings to you a very rich experience on the subject from different countries such as Georgia, Russia, IFES(Ukraine), Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Tunisia, and other countries. We , in India, have recently conducted General Elections 2019. Marked with robust innovation, new initiatives and state-of-the-art technologies, the experience is shared through a set of comprehensive articles in the Issue. Further, the Issue also brings to you election updates and several other related readings of interests from across the world.

MY VOTE MATTERS
A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
April - June 2019, VOL-I, Issue-II

In this issue, we bring to you experiences of different EMBs on “Making Polling Stations Accessible and Voter Friendly” besides some articles on “Inclusion and Equal Access” and much more in intresting presentations.

The second quarterly issue of the VoICE International with the central theme ‘Gender: Voter Education for Enhancing Women’s Participation’. This issue of the VoICE International seeks to present the experiences of different countries for knowledge sharing and learn from each for enhancing women’s electoral participation

Through this issue, we bring to you the knowledge and experience on ‘Digital Technology and Social Media for Voter Education’ with rich contributions from the EMBs of Brazil, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Iraq, Kenya (by IFES) and Nepal besides an article from IFES. Expert contribution through in-house research brings comprehensive and analytical information on the subject in relation to Australia, Canada, The United Kingdom and The United States of America in the form of ‘Insights’. Further, we have added a special section with articles dedicated to ‘Inclusion of PwDs’ in electoral process in line with theme adopted for celebration of 8th National Voters’ Day of India. The section carries highlights of the International Conference organized by the ECI, on the subject, and rich experience sharing from Australia, Bhutan, Ecuador, India and Moldova, International IDEA and IFES etc. I thank the authors of the articles and compliment them for their valuable contributionto enrich knowledge base and experience sharing for the readership of VoICE International

Election Commission of India
INDIA INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY AND ELECTION MANAGEMENT

The third issue of VoICE International with a robust response and an encouraging participation from democracies across the world.

The fourth issue of VoICE International that marks the completion of Volume I. VoICE.NET has further grown with joining in of the EMBs of Ecuador, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and Taiwan as the new members of the VoICE International. That takes our membership to 27 which includes 24 EMBs and 3 Expert International Institutions.

ENHANCING ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES and SENIOR CITIZENS : COMELEC’S BEST PRACTICES AND INITIATIVES 
Atty. Esmeralda T. Amora-Ladra
Director IV, Planning Department
COMELEC Philippines
November 26, 2021
 

The inaugural issue of VoICE International appears as a knowledge platform where we get to learn from each other through our constant sharing of rich and vibrant experiences and major initiatives undertaken with regards to voter education. It may not be picture perfect at the moment, but we are confident that it will hugely evolve as time progresses with more contributions in future issues. 

Conduct of Elections in India
International Election Visitors Programme 2021
Perspectives by 
Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, ECI
Mona Sreenivas, Director, ECI
 

International Webinar on
‘Enhancing electoral participation of Women, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) & Senior citizen Voters : Sharing Best Practices and New Initiatives’
Friday, 26th November 2021 
(Venue: Ball Room, Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Delhi)
PROGRAMME
 Inaugural Session
1100-1105 hrs.
Welcome by Mr. Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, ECI and
Sr. Adviser and Head, India A-WEB Centre
1105 –1115 hrs.
*Remarks by Mr. Jonghyun Choe,  Secretary General,
Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) – (*Recorded Video)
1115–1130 hrs.
 
Keynote Address by    Mr. Sushil Chandra, Hon’ble Chief Election  Commissioner of India & Chairperson, A-WEB
1130-1140 hrs
Release of the following Publications of India A-WEB Centre :
-          October 2021 issue of A-WEB India Journal of Elections
-          October 2021 issue of ‘VoICE International’ Magazine
-          Publication on ‘ Participation of Women, Persons with Disabilities and senior citizen voters in Elections’
1140-1150 hrs
Release of International Video presentation on facilitation and participation of Women, PwDs and senior citizens in  elections
 
 
Technical Session I
Co-Chairs :
H.E.  Mr. Mohammad Irfan Abdool Rahman, Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius
 
H.E. Mr. K.M.Nurul Huda   
Chief Election  Commissioner of  Bangladesh
 
 
Mr. Sushil Chandra
Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of India
Time (hrs) - IST
Presentation by
     1150 -1205
Opening remarks by Co-Chairs
    1205-1220
H.E.  Mr. Mohammad Irfan Abdool Rahman, Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius
1220-1235
Dr. Seung Ryeol Kim, Adviser to SG,
A-WEB Sectt.
1235-1250
Mr. Ion Mincu-Radulescu, Permanent Rep. of PEA of Romania to A-WEB
1250-1305
Ms. Gina Lee, Official from
NEC of the Republic of Korea
1305-1320
Closing remarks by  Co-Chairs  
LUNCH : 1320 – 1430 hrs.
 
Technical Session II
Co-Chairs :
 
H.E. Mr. Dasho Ugyen Chewang, Commissioner,  Election Commission of  Bhutan
 
 
 
Mr. Rajiv Kumar
Hon’ble Election Commissioner of India
Time (hrs) - IST
Presentation by
1430 - 1440
Opening remarks by Co-Chairs   
1440 - 1455
H.E. Ms. Chao-Chi Lin, Commissioner,
CEC  of Taiwan
1455 -1510
Ms. Lasanthi Daskon, Dy. Country Director, IFES-Sri Lanka
1510 - 1525
Ms. Esmeralda Amora-Ladra, Director, Commission on Elections,  Manila
1525 -1540
Mr. Touch Socheara, Director of Training, NEC of Cambodia
1540-1555
Closing remarks by  Co-Chairs  
 and  Q & A session
Technical Session III  
Co-Chairs :
 
H.E. Mr. M.M.Mohamad
Member, Election Commission of Sri Lanka
 
 
Mr. Anup Chandra Pandey
Hon’ble Election Commissioner of India
Time (hrs)- IST
Presentation by
1555-1605
Opening Remarks by Co-Chairs   
1605 - 1620
H.E. Ms. Janet Love, Vice Chairperson
EC of South Africa
1620 - 1635
Mr. Kezang Wangdi, Planning Officer,
EC of Bhutan
1635 - 1650
Mr. Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, Election Commission of India
1650 - 1705
Mr. Luiz de Andrade Filho, Secretary, Embassy of Brazil on behalf of TSE of Brazil
1705 -1720
 Closing remarks by Co-Chairs    
 
Closing Session
1720-1730 hrs.
Remarks by Mr.  Peter Wardle, Adviser,  Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre
1730-1740 hrs.
Remarks by Mr.  Peter Erben, Principal Adviser,
International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES)
1740-1750 hrs.
Remarks by H.E. Dr. Nomsa Masuku, Commissioner
Electoral Commission of South Africa  on behalf of Chairperson, EC South Africa and Vice-Chairperson of A-WEB          
1750 - 1800 hrs.
Closing remarks by Mr. Sushil Chandra, Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of India & Chairperson, A-WEB
1800-1805 hrs.
Vote of Thanks by Ms. Mona Sreenivas, Director, ECI 
 

Bangladesh
Strategies for Managing Elections despite the COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges and Protocols for conducting Elections during COVID-19: Sharing Country Experiences

The International Seminar on Strategies for Empowering Young and Future Voters is an important milestone in our endeavour to consolidate and move further in practice of citizenship development for electoral participation critical to investment in democracy, its deepening and sustenance. We had with us, the Heads of the Election Management Bodies, Institutions of Excellence and Experts who brought scholarship, knowledge and rich experience from across the democracies of the world for the cause of voter education for empowering young and future voters. The event came as a part of the National voter’s Day celebrations and was marked by the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with Australia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Fiji and Nepal for cooperation in the field of election management.
As the first event on VoICE.NET Knowledge Platform, the Seminar Proceedings witnessed an impressive launch of the Inaugural Issue of the VoICE International, the quarterly e-magazine on the VoICE.NET Platform. The Issue carried a special section dedicated to ‘Strategies for Empowering Young and Future Voters’ aimed at a yet larger knowledge dissemination and value addition to our knowledge resources for empowering young and future voters. We celebrate the value that was created and keep up the tradition for the cause of young people in democracies of the world. 

PIONEERING INITIATIVES FOR PARTICIPATION OF
WOMEN, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS IN INDIAN ELECTIONS
Umesh Sinha
Secretary General
Election Commission of India

This Conference Reader ‘Strategies to Empower Young and Future Voters’ visits the strategies, initiatives and experiences from participating EMB’s and international institutions besides Readings intended not only to support the interaction during the conference but a continued dialogue to enrich the knowledge base for sharing on the VoICE.NET platform. 
 
The Conference Reader that has been prepared in the Election Commission of India for supporting and facilitating the interaction during the Seminar. The Reader carries important papers from the Participating EMB’s, International Organizations besides the additional Readings on the subject developed through in house expertise in the ECI. We intend placing this document
and the deliberations of the Seminar on the VoICE.NET Platform for a continued dialogue on ‘Knowledge Sharing’ for the cause of ‘Young and Future Voters’ in the Democracies of the world.

SPECIAL VOTING ARRANGEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT OF ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19
 

International Webinar on “Enhancing Electoral Participation of Women, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens: Sharing Best Practices and New Initiatives.”
Organized by the Election Commission of India and the India A-WEB Centre
New Delhi, India
26 November 2021
Presented by:
Kezang Wangdi, 
Planning Officer, 
Policy and Planning Coordination Division (PPCD) 
 

‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during COVID-19: Sharing Country Experiences’
3 September 2020
REFLECTIONS ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
CHAIRPERSON OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA AND VICE CHAIRPERSON OF AWEB MR GLEN MASHININI

Enhancing Electoral Participation of Women, Person with Disabilities (PwDs) and Senior Citizens: Sharing Best Practices and New Initiatives
- Presentation from the Electoral Commission of South Africa
- Presented by: Ms Janet Love, Vice Chairperson of Electoral Commission
- Date: 26 November 2021