( Voters in queue in Saran District in 2nd phase of Bihar Assembly polls)
Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) is organising an International Virtual Election Visitors Programme 2020 (IEVP) for foreign Election Management Bodies (EMBs)/Organisations from November 5 to 7, 2020, in the context of the ongoing Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections.
In the past, the ECI has organised International Election Visitor Programmes (IEVPs) for foreign EMBs/Organizations in 2014 Lok Sabha elections; elections for a few State Assemblies in February /March 2017 and Lok Sabha Elections in May 2019. Bihar has an electorate of over 72 million, one of the largest in the world to vote amid the COVID19 pandemic.
Delegates from over 40 countries across the world including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Mauritius, Nepal, Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Zambia etc. and 3 international organisations (viz. International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), and Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) have been invited to participate in the IEVP 2020, according to a PIB release.
The Programme for IEVP 2020 comprises an online briefing session on November 5, 2020, which would provide to the participants an overview of the large canvas of Indian electoral process, the new initiatives taken by ECI on voter facilitation, transparency and accessibility of electoral system; and ECI’s response to the changing needs of training and capacity building. The keynote address at the inaugural session will be delivered by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. The session shall also be addressed by Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Sushil Chandra.
On November 6, 2020, the programme will provide a unique overview of the Commission’s flagship programme for voter awareness – SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation). The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar will share the State’s experiences with the global audience.
On November 7, 2020, the participants are being invited to a virtual tour of polling stations in Bihar. The visit will be amplified by exclusive footage, a walkthrough of the electoral process, and various arrangements at the polling station for a free, fair, participative and safe election.