North News
New Delhi, January 23
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar warned on Thursday against the dangers of fake narratives that undermine trust in electoral processes, speaking at an international conference organized by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In his keynote address, Kumar highlighted 2024 as a pivotal year for Election Management Bodies (EMBs), testing their ability to uphold democratic values amidst growing complexities. He stressed the dual role of technology in elections, enhancing efficiency and transparency while posing risks like cybersecurity and misinformation. India’s 2024 general elections, Rajiv Kumar pointed out, ECI set records with 647 million voters and over one million polling stations, emphasizing inclusivity with significant participation from women, the elderly, disabled, and third gender groups.
The CEC noted that technology, while offering opportunities through AI, online voting, and biometric authentication, also necessitates vigilant cybersecurity measures.
The two-day conference, themed ‘Global Election Year 2024: Reiteration of Democratic Spaces, Takeaway for EMBs’, was attended by representatives from 13 countries and international bodies to discuss election management issues. The speakers from Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Indonesia also raised concern about disinformation’s impact on electoral integrity. Mauritius’ CEC Abdool Rahman cited a case where fake recruitment apps were used to spread misinformation. The gathering also heard from Namibia’s Electoral Commission about seeking strategies to combat social media misinformation, and Indonesia shared its proactive approach via a WhatsApp channel for real-time myth-busting.
Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar discussed the scale and quality of India’s Lok Sabha Elections, setting global benchmarks. Bhutan’s CEC Dasho Sonam Topgay praised India’s EVMs for enhancing trust in Bhutan’s electoral system, discussing the potential for online voting. The conference agenda included sessions on technology in election management, social media’s influence, promoting electoral equity, and future election trends, concluding with an outcome document to reinforce international cooperation in electoral practices.
