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ECI, State Poll Bodies Adopt National Declaration 2026 to Align Election Processes

The move sets up a three-month joint review to deliver state roadmaps for standardised election management.

Overview

  • After the first national round table in 27 years, the ECI and State Election Commissions agreed to share ECINET, EVMs, electoral rolls and IIIDEM training infrastructure to deepen coordination.
  • The declaration commits the institutions to explore legally viable ways to harmonise laws for panchayat and municipal elections with those for Parliament and State Legislatures.
  • A joint team of legal and technical officers led by Deputy Election Commissioners will study SEC proposals and submit a State/UT-wise roadmap to the Commission within three months.
  • The ECI proposed making the round table an annual fixture and invited SECs to join its international engagements, following conference briefings on EVM safeguards and the ECINET platform.
  • Moving to implementation, the CEC and Election Commissioners began on-ground reviews in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, meeting officials and parties with a stated focus on tighter enforcement against money power and inducements.