Why the Election Commission is Meeting State ECs After a 27-Year Gap

Election Commission to Host Historic Round Table with State ECs After 27-Year Gap

New Delhi, February 22, 2026 — In a major development aimed at strengthening India’s democratic infrastructure, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced it will convene a ‘National Round Table Conference’ with all State Election Commissioners (SECs) on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The high-level meeting, to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, is highly significant as it is taking place after a massive gap of 27 years. The last such joint conference was held in 1999.

Fostering Cooperative Federalism in Elections

The day-long conference will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, in the presence of Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.

State Election Commissioners from all States and Union Territories (UTs), accompanied by their legal and technical experts, will participate. Additionally, the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all 36 States and UTs are scheduled to attend.

According to the official release, the primary objective is to build strong synergies between the central ECI and the state-level SECs. The deliberations are designed to reinforce “cooperative federalism” in the management of electoral processes and logistics, allowing the bodies to streamline their operations within their respective legal frameworks.

Focus on Tech, EVMs, and the ECINET Platform

A core focus of the round table will be the integration of modern technology into India’s election machinery. Senior ECI officials will deliver detailed presentations focusing on:

• Technology Sharing: Collaborative use of digital infrastructure between the central and state commissions.

• ECINET Digital Platform: Exploring the transformative potential of the recently launched ECINET platform to streamline electoral services across the board.

• EVM Security: Highlighting the robustness, transparency, and advanced safeguards of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

• Electoral Rolls: Discussing standardizations and comparative legal frameworks governing the preparation of Electoral Rolls under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

This historic assembly is expected to provide a crucial platform for the constructive exchange of ideas, paving the way for more unified, transparent, and tech-driven electoral management across the nation.