New Delhi, Jan 25 (.) On the 16th National Voter’s Day, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar delivered a compelling address underscoring India’s stature as the world’s largest and most transparent democracy. Speaking at the event attended by the President of India Droupadi Murmu, union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Election Commissioners, political party representatives, and first-time voters, Kumar emphasised the foundational role of voters in sustaining India’s democratic vitality.
“India has not only been the cradle of democracy but also stands today as the largest and most transparent democracy in the world,” the CEC said. He traced India’s democratic legacy back to ancient times, referencing the assemblies in the Atharvaveda around 1200 BCE, the Vaishali Republic established circa 600 BCE, and the Kudavolai voting system of the Chola period in 917 CE.
Highlighting India’s growing global recognition, Kumar noted India’s recent election as chair of the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), which comprises 35 leading democracies. “This honour reflects the increasing trust the global democratic community places in India’s reliable electoral system,” he remarked.
He pointed to the historic international summit on democracy and election management hosted by the Election Commission in New Delhi, which brought together about 70 democratic nations. The three-day event culminated in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration 2026, reaffirming India’s leadership and commitment to democratic principles.
Kumar also spotlighted the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), established 15 years ago by the Election Commission, which has emerged as the world’s largest training institution in election management. IIIDEM has trained thousands of election officials from over 100 countries and signed Memoranda of Understanding with nearly 40 nations.
In 2025, IIIDEM conducted specialised training for over 5,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and supervisors across all 4,123 assembly constituencies, introducing standardised photo identification cards to strengthen electoral integrity. Kumar highlighted that in the same year, 4,719 multi-party meetings were held at various administrative levels, involving nearly 28,000 political party representatives, fostering transparency and cooperation.
To enhance voter experience, the Election Commission implemented 30 key initiatives in 2025, including limiting polling stations to a maximum of 1,200 voters, allowing mobile phone deposit at polling centres, and improving Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with color photos and larger font sizes for candidate identification.
On the cornerstone of democratic strength, CEC Kumar stressed, “All democracies recognise that a clean and accurate electoral roll is the foundation of a robust democracy.” To this end, he said, the Election Commission launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to ensure no eligible voter is excluded and no ineligible person is included.
Kumar said that the Commission also introduced the ECINet App, an integrated digital platform consolidating nearly 40 existing apps with enhanced services for voters and stakeholders. The global launch of ECINet attracted worldwide attention, with many countries expressing keen interest in adopting similar systems.
Reflecting on recent elections, Kumar noted the successful conduct of 15 by-elections across 13 states and the Vice-Presidential election. He highlighted the historic Bihar Assembly elections in 2025, which recorded the highest voter turnout since 1951 at 67.3 per cent, with women voters participating at an impressive 71.8 per cent, and no repolling required at any polling station.
The National Voter’s Day 2026 theme, “My India, My Vote: Indian Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy,” encapsulates the Election Commission’s unwavering focus on transparency, voter convenience, trust, and dignity.
Paying tribute to every Indian voter, Kumar said: “Your participation keeps our democracy vibrant. Your vote is India’s greatest strength.” Calling for collective resolve, he urged, “Let us pledge not only to embrace democracy but to live it, cherish it, and strengthen it for generations to come.” . SKA KK