Page 13 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT xiii

Acknowledgements

It is my proud privilege to present the India A-WEB Centre document ‘International Experiences in
Conducting Elections during COVID-19’ on the eve of A-WEB India Centre webinar on the subject.
Study of the COVID-19 safe elections is of tremendous significance and import in the present day
context.
COVID-19 has caused unprecedented stress on the electoral systems across the world during the
year 2020. At India A-WEB Centre, despite ‘lockdown’ we started monitoring the impact of COVID-19
on elections ab initio. Every country that has conducted elections during the period, offers some
significant ‘Take Away’ for COVID-19 safe elections. The document compiles valuable information
on experience of conducting elections by different countries despite complex challenges posed by
COVID-19. We congratulate these EMB’s for their contribution to the cause of democracy.
I express my gratitude to Mr Sunil Arora, Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner of India and Chairperson
A-WEB for his visionary guidance and support in this study that has helped us in developing this
document. I am grateful to Mr Sushil Chandra and Mr Rajiv Kumar Hon’ble Election Commissioners of
India for their encouragement and support in this initiative.
I express my sincere thanks to Mr Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, ECI, Head and Senior Advisor, India
A-WEB Centre for his valuable guidance and support at every step in conceptualizing and developing
this Document. I am very grateful to Mr Jonghyun Choe Secretary General, A-WEB and his Secretariat
for encouragement and support to the India A-WEB Centre in this initiative.
I am thankful to Mr Dharmendra Sharma, Director General, IIIDEM for his contribution on Elections
conducted in India during COVID-19. My special thanks to Mr Sudeep Jain, Mr Chandra Bhushan Kumar
and Mr Ashish Kundra, Deputy Election Commissioners at the ECI for their ever encouraging support
and knowledge sharing interactions.
I take this opportunity to thank Ms A Mona Srinivas, Director, Mr P K Sharma, Secretary, Mr K P Singh
Under Secretary and Mr V K Sharma, Consultant in International Cooperation Division for their valuable
support and help in this work.
My special thanks to Mr Sharat Chander, Director, Media and SVEEP Divisions, Mr Pawan Dewan,
Under Secretary and Dr Ms Aarti Aggarwal, Senior Consultant for their valuable help while preparing
this document. I thank all the concerned staff of the International Division and others in the ECI for their
assistance in preparing this document.
I convey my special word of thanks Ms Soniya Sharma, Ms Neha and Ms Hringkan Sumpi, Consultants
in the International Cooperation Division who were the key members of our research team for their
dedicated and sincere hard work in developing the Document; and for their painstaking efforts in going
through the manuscripts and drafts of this Document.
Release of the document ‘International Experiences in Conducting Elections during COVID-19’ on the
eve of A-WEB India Centre International Webinar on the subject is the second major initiatives of the
Centre aimed at serving the A-WEB community in fulfillment of the vision and mission of the A-WEB.

We hope to bring out more documents on regular basis in service of the A-WEB Community.
S D Sharma
Senior Fellow
Election Commission of India

New Delhi, 31st August, 2020