**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India (ECI) organized a National Round Table Conference with State Election Commissioners (SECs) in New Delhi, concluding on February 24, 2026. The conference aimed to strengthen cooperation between ECI and SECs in preparing electoral rolls and conducting elections within a legal framework. A key outcome was the adoption of a National Declaration committing to pure electoral rolls and synergized laws, with a follow-up plan due in three months.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conference Overview:**
* The Round Table Conference was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar.
* The conference was held in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
* ECI launched a new publication titled, 'A Confluence of Democracies', which records the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026.
* **Collaboration & Coordination:**
* ECI and SECs resolved to strengthen institutional coordination within their respective mandates.
* Harmonized approaches are needed in electoral roll management, technology adoption, and sharing best practices.
* ECI and SECs should work in coordination.
* **Technology & Digital Platforms:**
* Leveraging the ECINET digital platform to build bridges between ECI and SECs was emphasized.
* Sharing technological solutions like EVMs, ECINET and Electoral Rolls.
* **National Declaration 2026:**
* Preparation of pure electoral rolls is the bedrock of democracy.
* ECI will work with SECs to synergize laws relating to Panchayats and Municipal Bodies with those relating to elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
* ECI will work out mechanisms to synergize all possible election processes, including sharing of ECINET, EVMs, and infrastructure at IIIDEM.
* ECI requested SECs to participate in international engagements and proposed annual Round Table Conferences.
* All SEC suggestions will be studied by a joint team, with a State/UT-wise way forward submitted to ECI in three months.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Election Commissioners (SECs)**
* **Impact:** SECs are expected to learn from each other's best practices and work in coordination with ECI. They will be involved in synergizing laws and electoral processes.
* **Action Required:** SECs need to participate in the collaborative efforts to harmonize electoral processes, share their suggestions, and implement agreed-upon changes.
**Election Commission of India (ECI)**
* **Impact:** ECI will lead the efforts to strengthen cooperation with SECs, harmonize laws, and share technology. They will also analyze suggestions from SECs.
* **Action Required:** ECI must facilitate the collaboration, study SEC suggestions, develop the State/UT-wise way forward, and implement necessary changes.
**Voters**
* **Impact**: The improvements in electoral roll preparation and election processes will help improve transparency and democracy.
* **Action Required**: No specific action is mentioned for voters.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): Organized the National Round Table Conference; to work with SECs to synergize laws relating to elections and facilitate international engagements; suggestions from SECs to be studied in detail for a best possible decision in National Interest.
State Election Commissioners (SECs): To strengthen cooperation with ECI in preparation of Electoral Rolls and Conduct of Elections; to learn from each other and adopt best practices; to participate in international engagements with ECI.
National Round Table Conference of ECI and State Election Commissioners: A conference for fostering synergies by sharing technological solutions and electoral rolls; for constructive exchange of ideas and reinforcing cooperative federalism in electoral management.
ECINET: Digital platform to build bridges between the functioning of the ECI and the State Election Commissions, a technological solution for the fostering synergies.
New Delhi: Location where the National Round Table Conference of ECI and State Election Commissioners, 2026 concluded.
Election Commission
National Round Table Conference of ECI and
State Election Commissioners, 2026 concludes
in New Delhi
SECs resolve to strengthen cooperation in preparation of
Electoral Rolls and Conduct of Elections as per legal
framework
Posted On: 24 FEB 2026 10:15PM by PIB Delhi
1. Election Commission of India (ECI) organised the National Round Table Conference of ECI and
State Election Commissioners (SECs) today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
2. The Round Table Conference was chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Gyanesh
Kumar, in the presence of Election Commissioners, Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
3. In his inaugural address CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar underscored the importance of strengthening
institutional coordination between the ECI and SECs within their respective constitutional
mandates. He emphasised the need for harmonised approaches in electoral roll management,
adoption of technology, and sharing of best practices to further enhance the integrity and efficiency
of electoral processes in the country.
4. Election Commissioner Dr. S.S. Sandhu in his address exhorted the SECs to learn from each other
and adopt each other’s best practices. Further, he underlined that trust is the foundation of every
electoral process and thus it is important that both the ECI & SECs work in coordination.
5. Speaking on the importance of collaboration in digital technologies, Election Commissioner Dr.
Vivek Joshi stressed upon leveraging the ECINET digital platform to build bridges between the
functioning of the ECI and the State Election Commissions.
6. The deliberations provided a platform for constructive exchange of ideas and reinforced the spirit of
cooperative federalism in electoral management. The participants adopted the National Declaration
and resolved that the preparation of pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of democracy. The
declaration also states ECI will work with SECs to synergise laws relating to Panchayats and
Municipal Bodies with those relating to the elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures and
work towards furthering national and constitutional interest. (Full text of the joint declaration
annexed)
7. During the Conference, the new ECI publication titled, ‘A Confluence of Democracies’ was
launched. The publication is a comprehensive record of the recently held India International
Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, documenting the
participation of nearly 100 international delegates from over 70 countries along with international
and national experts, deliberations across 36
thematic sessions and bilateral meetings, and the formal adoption of the Delhi Declaration 2026.8. The National Round Table Conference, successfully held after a gap of 27 years, paves the way for
fostering synergies by way of sharing of technological solutions such as EVMs, ECINET, and the
sharing of Electoral Rolls.
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PK/GDH/RP
24.02.2026
National Declaration 2026
National Round Table Conference of the Election Commission of India & State Election
Commissioners
1. Preparation of Pure Electoral Rolls are the Bedrock of Democracy and transparent Conduct of
Elections in an efficient manner strengthen democracy.
2. In National and Constitutional interest, ECI suggested to work out mutually acceptable mechanisms
and legally viable frameworks to synergise with all SECs across the country for all possible election
processes including the sharing of ECINET, EVMs, Electoral Rolls and the world-class
Infrastructure at IIIDEM.
3. ECI and SECs will work together to synergise the Laws relating to the elections to Panchayats and
Municipal Bodies with those relating to the elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.
4. ECI also requested the SECs to come forward and participate in international engagements of ECI
and proposed to hold such National Round Table Conference with ECI once every year, preferably
along with the international conferences being chaired by ECI.
5. All suggestions given by SECs in this National Round Table Conference will be studied in detail by
a joint team of legal and technical officers led by concerned DECs of ECI. A State/UT-wise way
forward will be submitted to the Election Commission of India in next three months for a best
possible decision in National Interest.
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