Electoral management and inclusive democracy: the Indian experience
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the US–India Policy Institute are pleased to invite you to the Interactive Discussion on “Electoral management and inclusive democracy: the Indian experience”.
The Election Commission of India is widely regarded as a model of an independent election management body (EMB). It may be even more appropriate to describe it as a ‘fiercely independent’ EMB.”[1] Overseeing electoral activity in 672 districts, with an ethnically, religiously and linguistically diverse electorate of over 850 million voters, the largest in the world, requires the over 11 million polling staff for around 930,000 polling stations ranging from the beating heart of the metropolitan centers to remote islands and isolated mountain constituencies. All of this lying on the shoulders of three electoral commissioners (the Chief Election Commissioner and two others). With Sustainable Development Goal(SDG)16 under review in the 2019 High Level Political Forum, and with nearly three years now having elapsed since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is important to consider how the effective management of elections can empower peoples voices and strengthen a culture of inclusive democracy which can set the ground work for the creation of peaceful and inclusive societies, extend access to justice, as well as strengthen accountable and inclusive institutions.
With this in mind, on Monday, 14 May 2018, International IDEA and the US-India Policy Institute will be organizing an interactive discussion on “Electoral management and inclusive democracy: the Indian experience” which will feature a keynote address by Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, current Member of the Board of Advisers of International IDEA, who will reflect on his tenure serving on the Election Commission of India, in particular his time as Chief Election Commissioner, with an eye to best practices and lessons learned from managing the world’s largest and most diverse democracy.
Light lunch starting at 12:45 which will take place at Vienna Café (top of ramp) on the 1B Level.
Lecture and discussion:13:15 - 14:30.
Place: Conference Room10 (Ground Floor), Conference Building, UN Headquarters, New York
