On the second day of the three-day India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM)–2026, today on 22nd January 2026, UT Chandigarh actively participated in the conference by leading the thematic session on “*Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)*”, a critical pillar of India’s robust, credible and transparent electoral framework.
For this thematic study, the Election Commission of India partnered UT Chandigarh with Antigua and Barbuda, facilitating an exchange of international best practices and comparative insights into electoral technologies, procedural safeguards and voter confidence mechanisms adopted across democracies.
The thematic session was moderated by Shri Swapnil M. Naik, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, UT Chandigarh. The panel of speakers included Mr. Arthur G.B. Thomas, Chairman, Antigua & Barbuda Electoral Commission; Sh. Manish Garg, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, ECI; Dr. Sanjay Batish, Deputy Nodal Officer (EVMs) and Head of Department, Computer Science, PEC; and Sh. V. Sreenivasa Rao, NLMT & ILMT (EVM), Deputy Manager, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Setting the context, Shri Swapnil M. Naik, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, UT Chandigarh, traced India’s journey from paper ballots to precision-driven electronic voting, highlighting the legal and procedural evolution that has significantly strengthened electoral integrity over the decades. Elaborating further, Shri Naik emphasized the importance of EVMs in modern elections, particularly in large, diverse and high-turnout democracies like India, where scale, geographic spread and the pressures of manual counting necessitate technology-enabled solutions.
He underlined that EVMs enhance accuracy, efficiency and integrity, reduce invalid votes, limit human handling and ensure that every vote is recorded as intended and counted as cast, thereby reinforcing public trust in the electoral process. The Chairman, Electoral Commission of Antigua & Barbuda, shared experiences of voting practices followed in his country and discussed how India’s EVM model has supported capacity building and technical assistance, offering valuable insights for countries seeking reliable and scalable electoral solutions.
Dr. Sanjay Batish delivered a detailed presentation on the functional and operational aspects of EVMs, including first-level checking (FLC), mock polls, secure storage protocols, transportation safeguards and the pivotal role of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in reinforcing public trust. He also addressed common doubts and misinformation related to EVMs, explaining how transparency mechanisms and institutional safeguards help counter fake news and misconceptions.
Sh. V. Sreenivasa Rao elaborated on the components of EVMs - Control Unit, Ballot Unit and VVPAT and their respective roles, highlighting the secure design architecture, indigenous manufacturing process and stringent quality control measures followed in EVM production. He further emphasized voter privacy, inclusivity features, multilingual interfaces and accessibility provisions, including voter assistance for persons with disabilities, ensuring that technology remains citizen-centric.
Sh. Manish Garg, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, ECI, shared comprehensive insights on the technological, legal, operational and capacity-building dimensions of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), highlighting their secure design and manufacturing processes, component architecture, robust voter trust mechanisms and the global adaptability of India’s EVM system.
The session also underscored the importance of administrative preparedness, standardized operating procedures, equipment readiness and visible safeguards such as sealing protocols, mock polls and independent audits in strengthening voter confidence and institutional accountability.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed, during which international delegates sought clarifications on technological safeguards, legal frameworks and operational procedures governing the use of EVMs. The panelists responded comprehensively, resulting in rich and constructive deliberations.
The thematic session on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) concluded on a highly productive note, with participants appreciating India’s EVM ecosystem as a globally adaptable, transparent and trustworthy electoral model. Simultaneously, several other thematic sessions were conducted, wherein Chief Electoral Officers from various States and Union Territories facilitated discussions on diverse aspects of election management.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) also launched ECINET, its one-stop digital platform for all election-related information and services, during the event today. ECINET is the world’s largest electoral service platform, bringing together all electoral services of the world’s largest democracy on one seamless interface by integrating over 40 applications and portals of the Election Commission of India, thereby enhancing accessibility, efficiency and ease of service delivery for all stakeholders.
Present on the occasion were Mr. Ian Hughes, Elections Supervisor, Antigua & Barbuda; Sh. Amandeep Singh Bhatti, Electoral Registration Officer-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner; Sh. Rajiv Tewari, AERO-cum-Election Media Nodal Officer; Sh. Paviter Singh, Director (Hospitality); Dr. Suraj Thapa, National Level Master Trainer, along with other officials of the Chandigarh Administration.