Puducherry, April 11 A 12-member delegation from six countries praised the scale, precision, and vibrancy of India's electoral process after visiting polling booths in Puducherry on April 9.
Having firsthand observed the April 9 territorial assembly elections, the delegates commended the meticulous planning and high level of voter participation.
Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry, P Jawahar, said in a statement on Saturday that the delegates were from the Kyrgyz Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Moldova, Mongolia, Guyana, and Bhutan, and witnessed the poll process as part of the Election Commission of India's "International Election Visitors Program" (IEVP) 2026.
Jawahar said that the delegates were in Puducherry for two days, on April 8 and 9, and visited the "Integrated City Command and Control Centre," where they observed drone surveillance and the real-time functioning of the app and the response of flying squads.
The CEO said that the delegates visited polling stations in the Raj Bhavan and Mangalam Assembly constituencies on the day of the election.
They appreciated the inclusive, participatory, and accessible features at the polling stations, including ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers, and childcare facilities, as well as dedicated polling stations managed by women and persons with disabilities.
The IEVP is a flagship initiative of the EC aimed at fostering international cooperation and engagement with Election Management Bodies and international organizations, the CEO said.
The program provides a comprehensive overview of India's electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, while familiarizing delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.
Describing their experience as a "true festival of democracy," the delegates expressed their appreciation for the record voter participation, meticulous planning, and seamless execution of the polls by the ECI, the officer said.